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Dec. 10, 2019

OWN CORRESPONDENT

2 min read

’Maseribane calls for unity

’Maseribane calls for unity

BNP leader Chief Thesele 'Maseribane

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MASERU – Leader of Basotho National Party (BNP) leader, Chief Thesele ’Maseribane, has called for unity amongst Africans, saying history had united the peoples of Lesotho and South Africa.

Chief ’Maseribane, who is also Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, said this in honour of the fallen heroes who were killed by South African troops on December 9, 1982, in what became to be known as the Maseru Massacre.

The Chief was speaking on Monday at an event held in Maseru in remembrance of the 42 people who gunned down on the early hours of that morning by the SA army under the apartheid regime.

A total of 30 of the slain were refugees who were members of the then banned African National Congress (ANC) and 12 Lesotho nationals.
Basotho were killed for housing ANC refugees, Chief ’Maseribane said, adding that their deaths had turned the peoples of Lesotho and South Africa into one.

“The blood shed is a testimony that we are one, the fact that the then Lesotho Prime Minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, accepted to help those refugees was a sign of bravery that should be commended,” he noted.

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He described that era as the old and painful days when Africans (blacks) were not even allowed to use the same restrooms with the whites.
On a lighter note, Chief Maseribane said he was contemplating to ask the Prime Minister to consider December 9 as national holiday in honour of those fallen heroes.
Speaking on behalf of the ANC, Oupa Khoabane said it was high time that both Lesotho and South Africa redefined their relations.
Mr Khoabane commended Lesotho and its people for their immense contribution towards South Africa's freedom.

 

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