A tribute to Major Gen Siyaya Nkonyeni

It is with deep sadness that we learned the Nkonyeni family had lost their son so unexpectedly. The death of your son is a great loss to this nation as well, and to the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, the liberation movement in which he was highly respected. Major General Siyaya Nkonyeni has departed to eternity at a critical time in our history, when our country needs warriors for our authentic liberation.

He has served the African national liberation struggle of our country with distinction and tenacity.

This is a soldier who knew his military science and understood that its ultimate objective is the equitable redistribution of land and resources to the people. This African case was put to King George V of England by Sol Plaatje, John Dube and their three colleagues in July 1914. Our kings had already fought heroic wars for our landt. Political giants of this country such as Lembede, Mda, Sobukwe and Mothopeng endorsed the land issue and articulated it without compromise.

Major General Siyaya was a brave soldier. Long before he joined the South African National Defence Force in 1994, his name was associated with the song ‘Siyaya ePitori’ (We are going to Pretoria). This was during his time in the forests, mountains and hills of Africa where he trained as a guerrilla fighter, seeking South Africa’s liberation from colonialism and apartheid.
These were the darkest times. But far away from his country, where he suffered the gruesome life of guerrilla warfare, he became famous for the freedom song, ‘Siyaya ePitori.’ This sounded like a manifestation of mental disorder – insanity.

But he did go to Pretoria, Tshwane - not as a colonial apartheid slave, but as a free man. He rose through the ranks of the South African Army, occupying the rank of Major General. He served in this position with honour, earning the trust of his colleagues before being deployed to our sister country the Democratic Republic of Congo. There he performed his Pan African obligations as taught by Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe, that visionary imprisoned on Robben Island without so much as a mock trial.

I want to convey my personal appreciation to M-Afrika Siyaya’s family and to all his relatives for contributing to our national liberation struggle, a politico-military cadre of Comrade Siyaya’s calibre.

Without such menthe indigenous owners of this country would have ended in the 11 Bantustans, colonially the ‘home lands’.. The colonialists had the audacity to tell us where we may live in the land that God, Qamata, Modimo, Mvelingqngi gave to our ancestors.

Let this generation and coming generations derive inspiration and wisdom from heroes such as Major General Siyaya Nkonyeni. The liberation journey he was involved in is still long. Cde Siyaya was in the class of General Makhanda colonially called Makana. He defended land rights for Africans in our country under King Ndlambe. On 25 December 1819, he stormed the British colonial garrison in Grahamstown – eRhini isixeko seNgwele!

General Siyaya walked the road of General Makwanyane of Moshoeshoe’s Army, the army that halted those trying to climb Thaba Bosiu and dispossess Africans of our country and land. Makwanyane demonstrated political clarity and military prowess when he said:

‘Tshwara thebe e tie wa Rasenate
Wa bona fatshe leno le yaya.”
(Hold firm your shield son of Rasenate
You see the land of your ancestors is taken away)
General Siyaya ‘ePitori’: Sobukwe, Mothopeng, Pokela, Jafta Masemola and many other heroes of our authentic liberation are proud of you.
The architect of Battle of Isandlwana, King Cetshwayo
Uphaqa nje ngelanga
Inyathi yasenhlakanhlakeni
Unokuzila ukudla kwamagwala
Impunzi kaNdaba!
is full of joy for your sacrificial national service.
King Hintsa was also a great soldier.
UNjonga ntshiyini bathi uqumbile
Inkunzi abayikhuzu ukuhlaba ingekahlabi
Uzigodlwana zemazi endala
Zingalala endleni yazini kunyembelekile.
He too, is smiling with joy upon your patriotism.
WHAT REMAINS NOW IN OUR COUNTRY IS EQUITABLE REDISTRIBUTION OF LAND AND ITS RICHES ACCORDING TO POPULATION NUMBERS. LIBERATION OF A LAND-DISPOSSESSED PEOPLE WITHOUT REPOSSESSION OF THEIR LAND IS A GIGANTIC COLONIAL FRAUD.

General Major Siyaya Nkonyeni Rise in Honour and Glory

HAMBA KAKUHLE QHAWE LAKOWETHU

Izwe Lethu! Fatshe la rona! Shango lashu! Tiko ra hina! The Land Is Ours!’

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