Stop the "un-African" practice of "scouring" our graves, grieving families have told former African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma, whose campaign trail in Limpopo includes visiting the graves of two ANC military veterans.

The families have barred Zuma from visiting the gravesites of late minister Collins Chabane and uMkhonto weSizwe soldier Peter Malada. 

Chabane, who died in 2015, was the minister of public service and administration while Malada died in 2020.

Zuma, who recently threw his weight behind the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party, planned to visit Chabane and Malada's graves as part of his campaign in Limpopo at the weekend. 

The visits would have taken place at 14.30 and 17.30 respectively on Saturday, but the families have now called on the ANC and its military veterans to protect the graves.

Speaking to News24, Peter's brother, Moses Malada, said, "It's not even an issue of politics. As the family, we only learned about [the poster] on social media and you will understand that as Africans we have protocols when it comes to burial sites."

He added burial sites were controlled by chiefs, and even they were unaware of the visit.

"Secondly, Peter Dambuza, as he was popularly known in MK circles, was not a member of the MK Party.

"He was a member of the ANC until his last day on earth, so we therefore cannot find ourselves trying to suggest that he would've approved of the formation of the MK Party."

Malada said his family belonged to different political parties, but they had reached a consensus: "Let's not use him for political gains or points scoring".

He described the gravesite as being engraved with ANC and MK branding.

"Let's allow him to be ANC even in the grave. We cannot allow political parties to confuse his legacy. He was never anything else, except being an ANC member."

News24 understands Chabane's widow, Mavis, is one of the people who wanted to know why the MK Party had a pamphlet showing Zuma would visit his grave, which is on private property.

Chabane Foundation secretary and his former political advisor, Bohani Shivambu, said: "We did not receive any communication [from the MK Party]. We were getting a lot of calls from the members of the public and the family. They wanted to know if we had given permission and we indicated that we did not.

"They indicated a very strong objection to this and that for many people, Collins Chabane died eight years ago, but for them it is like yesterday."

He added the Chabane family should be left to grieve alone. 

In a statement, the foundation said, "They have started. They are here, and everywhere, scouring graves, opening wounds and awakening resting souls. They are looking for votes and to resuscitate broken careers. It was Moses Mabhida, then General Dambuza and now it is Collins Chabane. When will it end?"

It added Chabane's family, the Mhinga Royal House and the foundation had not given Zuma's party permission to visit the site. 

"The family is opposed to the envisaged visit as insensitive and trampling on the spirit of their loved son, brother, uncle, husband and father.

"Collins Chabane was not a coward. He enlisted as a soldier of uMkhonto weSizwe to fight for his land, country, and people without regard to personal harm or benefit.

"He made his views known without saying much.

"Let no one change his commitment to the liberation struggle, transformation of our country and unity of the struggling people led by the congress movement.

"The family expects no one at their graveyard on the said date. Let no one trample upon his soul and name for entrepreneurial political purposes."

The foundation said the family expected the ANC and MK veterans to protect and honour Chabane's name and "all the heroes of the struggle against the exploitation of their sacrifices in pursuit of personal ambitions and division of the people".

MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela was asked whether Zuma's itinerary in Limpopo would be changed after the uproar from the families.

He read the message but did not respond.