Langa Dube, grandson of ANC founder Dr Langalibalele Dube, calls for unity among black political and social formations to advance the fight for land restitution in South Africa. A file image of ANC struggle stalwart Mac Maharaj ( left) together with Langa Dube during a wreath laying ceremony at Dr John Langalibalele’s grave. PICTURE: NQOBILE MBONAMBI/ AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (ANA)
Langa Dube, the grandson of the founding president of the African National Congress Dr John Langalibalele Dube has called on black political and social formations to unite and continue to fight for the total return of land to the black people.
Langa Dube was reflecting on his grandfather’s values as the ANC turned 113 years old on Wednesday.
Speaking to the SABC while standing next to his grandfather’s grave, Langa said although the ANC has not deviated from his grandfather’s values, the land question remained unresolved and this was something that his grandfather strongly advocated for.
“We need a family with all black political and social formations, be it churches and other formations, especially black organisations to map out the strategy and discuss how we take the struggle for land forward. Land must be finally returned to black people which my grandfather advocated for,” said Dube.
He called on the government to speed up the processes to get land back to black people.
As part of the party birthday celebrations on Wednesday, various leaders of the ANC including president Cyril Ramaphosa visited Robben Island in Cape Town where most of the party stalwarts including the late Dr Nelson Mandela were incarcerated. The party will hold its celebration rally at Mandela Park stadium in Khayelitsha township outside Cape Town on Saturday.
Dr Langalibalele Dube was also a strong proponent for education and built Ohlange school where his grave and his home are today. When the ANC was founded in 1912, he was elected president and he led the party for one term and stepped down in 1917.
During the first democratic elections on 27 April 1994, former President Nelson Mandela voted at Ohlange school and later went to Dube’s grave. He saluted at the grave and said: ‘My president, I am here to inform you that South Africa is now free’.
Willem.phungula@inl.co.za