Comrade Molefe Makinta, a dedicated freedom fighter, was born in Ngobi, next to Makapanstad on the 5th of August 1932. He passed away on the 16th of July 2004. He was the second child of Mr Jeremiah and Ruth Makinta.
He got married to Maggie in Sophiatown and they were blessed with a daughter and five grand children. He unfortunately lost his wife, Maggie, whilst in Prison. Apartheid regime couldn't afford him the opportunity to attend the funeral. Upon his release from prison he married Lucy with whom they were blessed with three children and four grandchildren.
He joined the ANC at the time of Mayibuye Africa in 1950 in Lady Selbourne, Pretoria. Due to police harassment, he moved to Brits where he was arrested and charged with sabotage and furthering the aims of the ANC in 1964 after being caught in possession of "subversive" ANC documents. This was while he was an ANC "carrier". He was consequently sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, which he served in Robben Island from 1964 to 1976.
He was released just before the historic 1976 Soweto Uprisings and subsequently hunted down by the security branch. He then went underground and continued advancing the struggle for liberation. He was instrumental in the formation of UDF in 1983. After the launch, he became the Front's voluntary administrator in its Pretoria office under the former-PWV region, a position he served in until its official phase out in 1991. He was then made a voluntary Administrator for the ANC, where he contributed immensely to the launching of ANC branches in the Pretoria region.
Between 1995 and 2000, he served in the Eastern Region District Council (currently Bojanala) as a PR Councillor. He also served on the Council's EXCO as the deputy Chairperson. He dedicated his entire life to fighting for freedom, the freedom he was still continuing to defend and give meaning to during his last moments of life.
He played a leadership role to establish an authentic MKMVA (Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association) provincial structure and he served in its interim provincial structure as a Treasurer in 2000. He was instrumental in launching all MKMVA regional structures that led to the launch of MKMVA provincial structure where he was elected the first MKMVA provincial Treasurer in 2001 and served till his last day.
It isn't only his wife, children and grandchildren who are mourning his death, but the entire democratic community, both nationally and internationally are mourning his death too. He is survived by his wife and four children and nine grand children.
The nation has lost a man who dedicated his whole life to the struggle for a better life for all in our country, and who served this nation with honour and distinction. He was an inspiration to thousands of young people in this country, to whom he gave hope in the midst of darkness during the apartheid years.
Long live the spirit of comrade Molefe Makinta long live.