THE African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal will tomorrow, 30July 2020, celebrate the centenary and birthday of Isithwalandwe Comrade Harry Gwala. 

Umtomdala, as he was affectionately known,  would be turning 100 years if he was still alive today. 

Born 1920 in New Hanover, Pietermarzburg, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Cde Gwala was a well spoken and prominent politician and stalwart of the ANC.

He was never apologetic but spoke his views and steadfastly stood by them. He would criticize any one no matter how high position they held. 

A teacher by profession,  he went on and nurtured many well-known activists, including Moses Mabhida whom he taught at slungspruit. 

He fought for justice and democracy against the apartheid regime and his unwavering political activism resulted in him being arrested by the apartheid state and serving two long sentences on Robben Island. 

While serving his second sentence, Cde Gwala contracted a rare disease which eventually disabled both his arms and led to  him being released from prison in 1988.

Cde Gwala never stopped working for the ANC and SACP. When he stood up in meetings, there would be silence as everyone would sit quietly and listen what he had to say. 

He was honoured with the Isithwalandwe Award in 1992 for his role in the struggle against the defeat of the apartheid system.

There is no doubt that if Cde Gwala was still alive today, he would be at forefront fighting the spread of the COVID-19 and continued reports of corruption in our various spheres of government. 

The ANCKZN calls on all South Africans, especially the people of KwaZulu-Natal to be not apologetic but report corruption, fight gender-based violence and inequality in our communities, observe rules and regulations of lockdown by wearing masks in public spaces, wash the hands by soap or sanitizers and consistently keep social distancing. 

Details of the birthday celebrations of the centenary of Cde Harry Gwala, which will include a wreath laying ceremony and virtual lectures, are as follows:

-This is the national ANC program hosted by ANCKZN 

PROGRAM: Wreath Laying led by the ANCKZN Chairperson Cde Sihle Zikalala 
DATE: 30 July 2020 
TIME: 09am
VENUE: Gwala Rest Place Cemeteries, KwaSwayimane, Mshwathi

PROGRAM: Virtual Lecture led by ANC President Cde Cyril Ramaphosa 
(Program directors are ANCKZN Secretary Cde Mdumiseni Ntuli and NEC Member Cde Nomvula Mokonyane) 
TIME:4pm
VENUE: All ANC social media platforms 
 

Issued by The ANCKZN