Komani will be celebrating the launch of the book, Walking with Giants, the memoirs of local icon and struggle veteran, Sindiso Mfenyana, as published by South African History Online next week.
This launch on November 16 will be supported by Keens Office Equipment, with backing from the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the Komani Writers Association, as well as members of the Mfenyana family. These memoirs provide a tapestry of the inner workings of South Africa’s premier liberation movement, the African National Congress, particularly after it was banned and forced into exile. Mfenyana is able to describe this history with detail and depth from his experience of working with former ANC leaders.
His insights give a rare perspective on the inner workings of the ANC during an important part of its history. Mfenyana has also emphasised the importance of education, in line with his conviction to record and share history with a high level of accuracy, particularly from the first hand view of those who have lived through the experiences. “Starting from Mfenyana’s humble beginnings in the Eastern Cape, this book launch will assist in drawing particular attention to the role and contribution in the broader liberation struggle of many activists like Mfenyana who come from the Chris Hani region, Komani in particular”, said Rev. BB Mfenyana, the Book Launch Organising Committee convenor.
After previous launch events: one hosted at the Parliamentary Library in Cape Town and another hosted at the 2017 African National Congress National Policy Conference, Mfenyana saw nothing more befitting for his work than to bring it home, where it all began. Mfenyana was born on 12 March 1940 in Bolotwa, Komani. After having been a member of the ANC Youth League, he joined the ANC in exile in 1962. He held several illustrious positions in the ANC-in-exile. He served as its representative in Egypt and the German Democratic Republic. He worked as the Administrative Secretary in the Office of the ANC Secretary General, Mr Alfred Nzo. In 1978, he was appointed as Head of a newly-created Department of Professional Bodies to oversee the creation of the ANC’s Departments of Education, Health and Arts and Culture, as well as its Legal and Economics Units. In 1985, he held the prestigious position of Secretary to the ANC President, Oliver Tambo.
He also served a term on the National Executive Committee of the ANC. He returned to South Africa in 1991.
Mfenyana became the first black person soon after South Africa’s historic transition to democracy to occupy the position of Secretary to Parliament from 1994 to 2004. After this period, he served as South Africa’s ambassador to Tanzania. He is now retired and lives in Cape Town. He currently serves in the Integrity Committee of the ANC. The public and all structures of society are invited to the launch, which will be taking place at the Komani Town Hall, on the 16th November 2017, starting at 4.30pm to 5pm.
The book is available for purchase at Keens Office Equipment, 1 Owen Street, Komani, and will also be available for book signing on the day of the launch. Keens Office Equipment is among the oldest and most reliable suppliers of books, art supplies and office equipment. The brand is 100% local, and is a driver of numerous efforts towards education, upliftment and social cohesion in the greater Chris Hani region.
