By Buchule Putini
Willowvale – The rural hills of Mbhashe reverberated with songs of remembrance on Thursday as Deputy President Paul Mashatile, flanked by Amathole District Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Anele Ntsangani, led the 38th Commemoration of the Battle of Lurwayizo—a moment that paid homage to the unsung liberation warriors of the Eastern Cape.
Held in the heart of Willowvale, the emotionally charged event brought together national and local government leaders, traditional authorities, military veterans, and community members to honour the courage, blood, and sacrifice of the freedom fighters who stood their ground against apartheid forces in 1987.
“This commemoration is not just about memory; it’s about justice, healing, and reclaiming our people’s dignity,” said DP Mashatile, as wreaths were laid at the symbolic memorial site. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to documenting untold stories of resistance from rural battlegrounds like Lurwayizo.
Cllr Ntsangani, known for championing the region’s liberation legacy, called on young people to embrace the baton of struggle through education, entrepreneurship, and political consciousness.
“Our forebears didn’t die for a passive democracy. They died for access, land, and dignity. We must carry that vision forward,” Ntsangani said.
The event forms part of a broader programme by the Presidency and Department of Sport, Arts & Culture to restore historic sites and embed resistance narratives into national consciousness.
Traditional leaders from the Rharhabe Kingdom also called for the protection of sacred sites and graves of fallen heroes, many of which remain unmarked and neglected across rural Eastern Cape.
The commemorative programme featured military honours, liberation songs, poetry by local youth, and a moving performance by the Willowvale Cultural Ensemble—reminding all in attendance that while bullets may have silenced the fighters, their spirits remain unshaken in the soil of Lurwayizo.
