Taylor Nsimbini elected MKMVA acting President

By: Sello Theletsane

Taylor Nsimbini has been elected as the acting President of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA).

The announcement was made following a National Executive Committee (NEC), which came on the backdrop of the burial of the organisation’s Kebby Maphatsoe.

“In line with the Constitution of MKMVA, which states that in the event of the President of MKMVA being incapacitated, or having passed on, the Deputy President will become the Acting President, the extended MKMVA NEC formally adopted a resolution to the effect that our Deputy President, comrade Taylor Nsimbini, will act as President of MKMVA,” spokesperson, Carl Niehaus said in a statement.

“The NEC of MKMVA noted that we have a duty to make sure that the MK unity conference must be held as soon as possible. This was the expressed wish of our late President, and that wish must be brought to successful execution to honour his legacy.”

On Tuesday, Niehaus said the NEC met in an extended meeting, which included the Chairpersons and Secretaries of all nine provinces. He added that although MKMVA was still in mourning following Maphatsoe’s death, a number of urgent matters had to be addressed.

“This was important in order to honour, and maintain, the rich revolutionary legacy that comrade Maphatsoe bestowed on us and to make sure that the revolutionary task that he so ably led us in is successfully continued and executed. The MKMVA NEC once again acknowledged the immeasurable contribution that comrade Maphastsoe made to our liberation struggle, and specifically his contribution to advance the cause of MK veterans, notably through the establishment of MKMVA and his leadership of MKMVA as our President,” said Niehaus.

He added that the NEC nominated Des Van Rooyen to join Nsimbini as the organisation’s two representatives on the MK Task Team that continues with the planning of the MK unity conference.

“Other members of the NEC of MKMVA, with specific reference to comrade Masechaba Motloung, who is an NEC and NWC member, will deputise them in order to ensure that this important work is executed as efficiently and expeditiously as possible,” he said.

“The NEC of MKMVA noted the decision of the ANC NEC Lekgotla that no conferences will be held until after the local government elections that will be held on the 1st of November 2021.”

The organisation also welcomed the release of former President Jacob Zuma on medical parole.

“While we commend this decision of the Department of Correctional Services because of our deep concern for President Zuma’s well-being, the NEC of MKMVA reiterated our strongly held conviction that the political imprisonment of President Zuma was right from the outstart illegal, and that he should never have been imprisoned,” said Niehaus.