KUTLWANO OLIFANT
THE FAMILY of Black Consciousness activist Khotso Seatlholo, a leader of the June 16, 1976 Soweto uprisings, have been waiting for more than a month for the company that erected his tombstone to fix it.
Thanks to The Star, Bataung Memorials will be fixing the tombstone at the Avalon cemetery next week.
Seatlholo’s tombstone stands next to fellow student leader Tsietsi Mashinini’s.
Seatlholo died in 2004 and, two years later, his body was exhumed and buried next to Mashinini.
Mashinini led the Soweto uprising in 1976, and when he went into exile, Seatlholo took over. He went into exile in 1977 and returned two years later, armed with guns to fight the apartheid regime.
He was later arrested and sent to Robben Island. He returned home in 1990, continuing to play a leading role in the Black Consciousness Movement until he died.
His return to politics was, however, marred by infighting.
Seatlholo’s widow Thandi said the collapsing of the headstone had left her with many unanswered questions. According to her, relatives had discovered that the headstone had collapsed last month.
“They called to inform me and I went to view it,” she said.
She then called Bataung Memorials, the firm that erected the tombstone, to inform them about the problem.
“I was sent from pillar to post and there was never a response regarding this matter. I was told that the owner was overseas, but they would assist me soon. They never got back to me.”
Thandi said Thabo Malebane, from Bataung, had promised to look into the matter, after numerous calls to the company.
“A month has gone by and I haven’t heard a word from him. Every time I called, the receptionist informed me that Malebane was out. They promised to call but nothing came up…
“The discovery brought back so much pain. I really do not know what happened to the tombstone,” she said.
When The Star visited the grave this week, broken pieces of the headstone were still lying on the ground, while Mashinini’s tombstone was still standing.
A cleaner at the cemetery said he became aware of the collapse a few months ago.
“Looking from a distance, we thought it was stolen, but it had fallen down. Later we were told it was the wind that had blown it over,” he said.
City Parks spokeswoman Jenny Moodley said they maintain the cemetery and ensure it remains clean and safe.
“It is the family’s responsibility to maintain their tombstone, and if there are problems, they have to call the memorial company.”
Malebane told The Star that the delay was because “material needed to fix the tombstone was scarce”.
He promised that Bataung Memorials would fix it by next week.