Tribute to leading activist

A WELL-KNOWN activist of Oudtshoorn, Mzukisi Norman “Ta Pops” Mooi (58), was buried at his hometown this weekend.
He passed away in Cape Town on Sunday evening, 12 September, the same day South Africa remembered the passing of another anti-apartheid and Black Consciousness activist, Steve Biko.

Speakers at a memorial service held on Thursday in Bongolethu by community organisations described him as a champion for the rural poor communities, but also as a fun-loving person who loved to be in the company of other people.

Mooi was one of the founding members of the first anti-apartheid organisation in Oudtshoorn, the Bongoletu Youth Organisation. He brave-ly appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings in Oudtshoorn in 1998 and relived how he witnessed the brutal ambushing of three boys during clashes with security police in Bongolethu on June 17, 1985. The three boys, Patrick Madikane, Fezile Hanse and Andile Majola, were 14 years old. They became known as the Bongolethu Three.

The TRC concluded that the kill-ing of the Bongolethu Three was an ambush carried out on children and youth.

It was no surprise that Mooi, even in the post apartheid era, remained a servant of the rural communities. He continued to dedicate his time, life and expertise to empower these communities. His was a political struggle that sought to re-affirm the dignity of black people, in particular those in the rural areas.

Prior to his death, he worked as a development, education and training practitioner empowering rural communities in the Cape Winelands. He was board chairperson of the Wine and Agricultural and Ethical Association (WIETA).

During the height of the struggle against apartheid, Mooi worked at the Saamstaan newspaper which had its offices in Bridgton. The newspaper won the Pringle Award for courageous and brave journalism reporting on farm workers’ conditions and on the political unrest in the Southern Cape region.

He also worked at the South Cape Council of Churches in Oudtshoorn, being responsible for arranging pri-son visits for parents of detained and imprisoned political activists.

Mooi criss-crossed the country, ensuring that parents of detainees could visit their detained and imprisoned children.

He will be remembered as one of the first generation of local community leaders in Oudtshoorn who galvanised communities to rise and challenge the apartheid government and to demand an end to discrimination.
• Makhaya Manie is a former youth activist in Oudtshoorn. (By Makhaya Manie)