South Africa enters the second transition against the backdrop of 30 years of democracy celebrations. We are reminded that the country’s freedom was not free and that people such as Dr Tlou Theophilus “Ranka” Cholo put their lives on the line against an oppressive regime.

Rightfully, the freedom stalwart and former labour activist was honoured with the Isithwalandwe/Seaparankwe award, albeit in absentia during the recent African National Congress (ANC) 113th anniversary celebration in Khayelitsha, Western Cape. Dr Cholo’s honour was announced alongside that of Dr Mandu Mildred Ramakaba-Lesiea and Tata Nkosinathi Benson Fihla.

Davhana was born in Block K, Soshanguve, and Dr Cholo’s late wife, Mmaphuti taught her at Khutso primary school, which is a few blocks from the veteran’s house on Steve Makena Street. Maubane is a native of Mohlonong Village in the Ga-Mashashane area outside Polokwane in Limpopo, which shares borders with Ga-Matlala, the nonagenarian’s birthplace.

Having met for the first time 28 years in the journalism class at the erstwhile Technikon Northern Gauteng (now TUT Soshanguve South Campus), we were both unaware of our linkage to Dr Cholo’s life journey.

It was not until our several interactions with the anti-apartheid stalwart five years ago wherein we also started giving him a voice by chronicling his liberation history, that our linkage to his life journey came to the fore.

It also became evident that he is also a fountain of wisdom on current and pressing geopolitical, social, economic or ecological issues needing addressing to take us forward.

Dr Cholo’s revolutionary footsteps can be retraced internationally, including to countries such as Botswana, China, Russia (then part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and Tanzania. He received military operations and trade unionism training in some of the above countries, which probably shaped his internationalist acumen.

Clearly and as evidence of his global footprint, some of these countries were also adequately represented by their Embassies during last year October’s 3rd Dr TT Cholo Annual Legacy Lecture. The lecture was hosted by the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Faculty of Humanities, in partnership with the Tlou Cholo Foundation.

Appropriately held at the Freedom Park, Pretoria, with the theme, South Africa’s Thirty Years of Democracy — Quo Vadis? the lecture was delivered by Ronald Lamola, minister of international relations and cooperation.

The lecture is part of the TUT’s vision to preserve and promote the liberation history of Dr Cholo, and others who have contributed in the struggle towards emancipation and access to education for South African youth, thus connecting generations.

The Kgakana Village, Ga-Matlala ‘a thaba in Limpopo born veteran is a fellow TUT Faculty of Humanities alumni. In 2018 our alma mater, fittingly conferred an honorary doctorate in public administration on him during its spring graduation ceremony at the Soshanguve South Campus. This was “in recognition for a lifetime dedicated to the fight for justice and social accountability”, and, as such, his Seaparankwe honour holds significance for the University, given its role in student activism and the fight for equal education going back to the 1980s.

The relocation of the 99-year-old family to Mmakala Village was influenced by the search for suitable land for livestock grazing. It resulted in his attending Lennes primary school before moving to Johannesburg in search of employment opportunities. Although he has been a Soshanguve resident for most of his adult life, Dr Cholo remains proud of his Bokone, Ga-Matlala a thaba roots.

Writing about Ga-Matlala in the book, The Forgotten People: Political Banishment under Apartheid, Saleem Badat outlines the resistance of its people to segregation laws, especially around land, its development, education and passes for women. The resistance probably has its genesis in 1919 wherein a local branch of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), forerunner to the ANC, was launched in the area.

At the height of the fight for freedom, Dr Cholo lived by the phrase “freedom or death”, which kept him committed to the emancipation of the African majority. He does not feel that anyone owes him for contributing to a free South Africa. He often reiterates that his participation was voluntary.

The nonagenarian was among the first volunteer cadres of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) to leave the country for military training and trade unionism in China and Russia. Significantly, the two countries are South Africa’s fellow BRICS+ economic bloc members.

In 1965, Dr Cholo was received by the Asian country’s first president, Mao Zedong, whereafter he received military training under the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. His military training in President Xi Jinping’s country and the continued China-South Africa military relations certainly culminated in the struggle stalwart’s honour in July last year by the Chinese Embassy. The event was held in Pretoria to mark the 97th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

The veteran was incarcerated on Robben Island from 1973 to 1988. Upon his release, he settled back in Soshanguve and entrenched himself into the northern Pretoria township’s 50-year heritage.

Consequently, the award also represents the immense role that the people of Soshanguve played in liberating previously marginalised South Africans. Currently one of the top 10 biggest townships in the country, social ills such as violent crimes have unfortunately cast a shadow over the great sacrifices and achievements of this enormous township.

The sacrifices of Dr Cholo and his comrades led to the 1994 democratic and non-racial general elections in South Africa. Upon becoming eligible to vote, it was thus a privilege in 1999 to cast our very first ballot in TT Cholo’s township of residence during our TUT undergraduate student days. Notably, Davhana cast her ballot at her former primary school, while Maubane voted at Meetseng primary school in Block L, Soshanguve.

Furthermore, the Seaparankwe Award brings the much-needed spotlight to Soshanguve, a place that is more than a creation of the Group Areas Act. It has produced sound government and business leaders, especially through the Tshwane University of Technology. Today, we can live much better lives than those of our forebearers and continue to hold the baton to make the current better for the coming generations.

In 1993, Cholo was deployed by the ruling party to the then Northern Transvaal, becoming the Provincial Secretary of the MK Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA), with his last role as a public office bearer serving as a member of the Limpopo legislature from 1994 to 2014.

In 2009, the South African government awarded Cholo the Order of Luthuli in Silver for his self-sacrifice in the struggle against apartheid and outstanding leadership in the trade union movement.

Dr Cholo and others did not have a comfortable life as they pursued freedom even in the face of death. Although he has certainly earned his stripes, Dr Cholo receives the Isithwalandwe/Seaparankwe honour with modesty.

Even though the veteran is on the cusp of turning a century old, he remains a strong advocate for continuous learning and an avid reader, clearly aligning with the people’s University, TUT’s motto “We empower people”.

His Isithwalandwe/Seaparankwe honour holds significance both for us personally and for our alma mater, as we can say we have walked in his footsteps, having touched the soil of Dr Cholo’s ancestral land, Mmakala Village, and the grounds of his alma mater, Lennes primary school.

Furthermore, during respective graduation ceremonies, we climbed the same stage in the Gencor Community Hall (now Ruth First Hall) at the TUT Soshanguve South Campus. Thus, we take pride in partaking in initiatives that seek to shine a spotlight on his liberation history.

Shalate Davhana and Malesela Maubane are TUT alumni, and the former also the People’s University staff member. They write in their personal capacities.