Ali Mphaki
Petrus Molefe was immortalised on Friday with the opening of an eco-park in Dlamini, Soweto, that is named after him.
Molefe is said to be the first Umkhonto weSizwe cadre to die in action.
On December 16, 1961, a bomb exploded prematurely, killing Molefe on the spot.
He and fellow MK cell member Benjamin Ramotse were on a mission to bomb the Bantu Administration offices in Dube.
Ramotse was severely injured, arrested and taken to hospital.
This was the night 50 years ago when MK was launched, and a total of 22 bombings were carried out countrywide.
The Mahikeng-born Molefe moved to Joburg in the early 1950s and joined the local ANC branch.
Former Rivonia trial accused and neighbour Andrew Mlangeni said in a televised address at the unveiling on Friday that Molefe had worked as a truck driver. He was a trade union organiser and served on the executive of the Dube Advisory Board.
“He was one of the very few comrades to own a car at that time and always volunteered his Zephyr Zodiac for organisational work,” Mlangeni said.
Molefe and his wife Maria did not have any children.
Mlangeni said most MK operatives in 1961 had little or no training and had to make their own bombs.
“This was a risky process and these homemade bombs were not always very reliable.”
Ramotse was later smuggled out of the country to conduct ANC activities in exile, but was captured and sent to Robben Island for 15 years. He was released in 1985 and died a year later.
Remembering the events of the day when her husband was injured, Johanna Ramotse said she was at home when she heard a loud explosion. She never imagined the blast had anything to do with her husband.
“But soon thereafter there was a knock at the door and the person told me that my husband and Molefe had been injured in an explosion.
“When we arrived at the scene near the Bantu Administration offices, I saw a body covered, and on inspection, found that it was Molefe. My husband had already been rushed to hospital,” Ramotse said.
At 700m2, the Petrus Molefe park showcases the work of City Parks, whose extreme makeovers convert disused pieces of land into fully fledged green recreational facilities.
The project is the sixth to be built by City Parks under the Greening Joburg initiative. The others are in Diepkloof, Protea Glen, Claremont, Wilgeheuwel and Pimville.
Delivering the keynote address, acting mayor Molly Mokoena said:
“Residents of this community lived in abject poverty, with no amenities such as electricity, piped water or flushing toilets. The fact that we can open this beautiful park, in this now developed area, is due to the sacrifices of people like Molefe and Ramotse.”
Earlier in the day, Mokoena unveiled a tombstone at Molefe’s grave site at Nancefield Cemetery.