Veteran African National Congress (ANC) underground operative, Petros Mohlanga (1955-2024) commonly known as Comrade/Commissar Geely, was quietly buried on Saturday 15th June 2024 at Munsieville cemetery in Krugersdorp, Gauteng. His passing away, disconcertingly added to the tally of multitudes of unsung ANC and plenty other South African political activists, whose exploits to liberate South Africa against the clinch of an Apartheid system, have been swept and thrust into the assemblage of ‘unsung’ community heroines and heroes. Although comrade Geely was well known among residents within Munsieville, it’s anyone’s guess if his name rings a bell to broader South Africans beyond Munsieville township. Personally, I confess that I only learnt about him as recent as the 25th of May 2024, as part of commemorations for Africa [liberation] Day.
After having begun ‘Africa Day’ as part of an intimate tour group, at the ‘Cradle of Humankind’ in Maropeng, famous as a paleoanthropological site, we drove off to the marginalised township of Munsieville (although this township dates back to 1911 for occupation by ‘blacks/ ‘black African’s or’ natives’), a council meeting in 1941 resolved to officially rename this location after James Munsie who was at the time the chief sanitary inspector. For all those interested in the intricate details of Munsieville, Nonkululeko Mabaso’s mini dissertation titled WHITENESS RE-ALIGNED: NARRATIVES OF WHITE RESIDENTS FROM MUNSIEVILLE, KRUGERSDORP (2017) submitted at the department of Sociology at University of Witwatersrand may be useful. Mabaso (2017:38) narrates that “James Munsie is remembered for the tremendous amount he did in the interest of the town’s health”. Geographically Munsieville is based a stone throw away, from Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital. Our tour guide was Thabo Matsafu, a son of the soil of Munsieville (both his parents hail from there) and an incumbent Tourism Regional Manager, at the Gauteng Department of Economic and Tourism (GDET). Matsafu is a founding member of Mogale City, Rand West City and Merafong City (MORAME). MORAME is a Regional Tourism Organization (RTO), focused on promoting the West Rand of Gauteng as a tourist destination. In partnership with the West Rand District Municipality. According to Morame’s website their “mandate is to attract visitors to the tourism jewel that is Gauteng West, with its rich history and heritage”. Based on my miscellaneous research interests on local South African history, Matsafu successfully convinced me to accept the task of serving as the inaugural chairperson of MORAME.
The aforementioned details, are meant to help in hinting that at the time of our maiden tour into Munsieville on ‘Africa Day’, we were oblivious about Munsieville, latter on the key people who contributed towards its socio-political history. On the basis that comrade Geely’s house was at the entrance of Munsieville, it was a no brainer why Matsafu made it our first stop. He conscientiously narrated to our tour group, the significance of comrade Geely’s home and the role it played as a ‘Safe house’ for underground operatives of the ANC. The house was eventually dubbed the ‘house of exile’ owing to the successful political recruits of the ANC that were accommodated at the home enroute to eventual exile in front line states such as Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
We got a sneak preview of the outside room of the currently dilapidated house and it was narrated that the activists who were new arrivals, never saw the ones that were about to skip out to exile. In the interest of time, Matsafu rushed us off to complete our Munsieville tour, before it got dark. We separated that evening to our respective homes, having agreed that a Munsieville heritage route for locals and tourists alike must be formalized and Morame, would pursue this venture further.
Barely a fortnight later, Matsafu broke the tragic news that comrade Geely had suffered a short illness, which led to his death, while hospitalized at Baragwanath hospital. Mourners were informed that although comrade Geely’s family planned to bury him in Pimville, Soweto, where he was born, the final decision was taken to bury him at Munsieville owing to the length of years that he had resided in Munsieville. On the 15th of June 2024, the Munsieville Community Hall thereby hosted his somber memorial service. Former Ward councillor in Mogale City Norman Sedumedi was assisted by fellow stalwart Mr. Lucky Morake to ably perform the duties of master of ceremony (MC). Reverend Thami Dingiswayo alongside senior pastor Matyaleni Mlambo (a former activist) led the prayer slots. Mr. Mthali spoke on behalf of the family and Mr. B Mogapi shared his tribute as a longtime neighbor. Mr. Shimi Moagi paid his last tribute as a persevering friend to comrade Geely. The South African Civic Association (SANCO) representative forfeited their slot, owing to absentia. Matsafu graciously addressed the mourners on the significance of Tourism to benefit Munsieville.
A moving tribute was given by mama Mahlodi Tebogo Anna Philemon (commonly known as simply Mahlodi) on behalf of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL). Her touching tribute summed up how during her youth, comrade Geely stood out as a mentor and father figure. For her comrade Geely was a showring example of a ground force/ foot soldier. He opted to work in the underground and was never interested in positions. Munsieville counted among the ’underworld’ townships, owing to the covert operations of comrade Geely. Next was ANC veteran Zara Ben Ntsimane, who was amongst the pioneering councilors to serve as part of the Krugersdorp Town Council from 1994. Although he never went to exile, he paid homage to the sacrifices that comrades such as Geely made, towards ANC recruits that skipped the country, in favour of military training. He shared with fellow mourners how he saw an Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK) rifle being emptied and reloaded for the first time in the hands of comrade Geely. This led to an ambivalent feeling of simultaneously being fearful and excited all at once. He echoed mama Mahlodi’ s tribute, when she narrated that comrade Geely was a dedicated ground force in contrast to ANC comrades, who were obsessed with positions and accumulation of personal wealth. He reminded us of Smuts Ngonyama’s infamous words “We didn’t struggle to be poor’.
Amongst the survivors who were sheltered and shielded at comrade Geely’s ‘safe house/ ‘house of exile’/’house of hunger’ was Mr. Tau Thekiso (currently a Security Manager). He read from his prepared speech. He shared with fellow mourners how his “journey which began with nine other comrades at the tender age of 14 years from Sharpeville to Munsieville, was fraught with danger…Yet it was under the steadfast guidance of Commander Tlhoki and Commissar Geely that we found not only safety, but a renewed sense of purpose. Their leadership and care were instrumental in shaping our paths as militant young lions, training the masses to build Molotov cocktail during the Munsieville uprising”. Further in his speech he stated that “It is with immense pride that we acknowledge the recognition of the house that sheltered us as a Heritage Site. This honour immortalizes the sacrifices and the spirit of those who stood with us in our darkest hours”. The Executive Mayor. Councillor Danny Molefi Thupane was conspicuous in his absence, we hope it was not because his political affiliation was ATM. The ANC however represented by Mr. Lucky Sele, the incumbent Speaker of Council of Mogale City. He acknowledged that he was a product of the ANCYL and was a protégé of MC Sedumedi. He saluted comrade Geely’s political contribution towards the safety of fellow cadres. He was saddened that comrade Geely did not live to witness the safe house transition to become the Heritage House. To him “a baobab tree had has fallen in Munsieville, but its roots will nourish the souls of Munsieville”. Comrade Geely’s Family members Simphiwe Mhlanga read messages from the wreaths and Ms. Nthabiseng Mhlanga read the obituary. Besides the men of the cloth, councillor of Ward 25 in Munsieville Mr. Thapelo Tshosa was the last to offer words of condolences, as a speaker at the graveyard. It’s worth echoing the words of survivor Tau Thekiso “It is imperative that we honour and remember those who contributed towards our struggle”. With the latter in mind, our work at MORAME is laid bare, we dare not falter on our heritage tasks. Hamba kahle mkhonto.
*Dr. Tshepo Mvulane Moloi is a Social Scientist and Chairs the Board of MORAME.
