BHEKI MEETS HIS MUSICAL ICON

It's the 18th of April 1993 , we are in Dawn Park , Boksburg South Africa , at Chris Hani's house . We have come to offer our support to Chris Hani's bereaved family , like a multitude of other mourners , who have arrived to offer their support to the grieving family , and to bid farewell to their fallen hero .

This devastating situation took place
during the time when I was the Rector of St Mathews Anglican parish , Emdeni , in Soweto . I had attended that particular funeral , primarily to offer my support to the family . As someone who is not affiliated to any political organization , I have always supported and attended funerals of various members of the wider community , when time permitted , irrespective of their political affiliations .
Chris Hani had been a leader of the South African Communist Party , and the Chief of Staff of Umkhonto Wesizwe , the armed wing of the African National Congress . He had been brutally assassinated on the 10th of April , in 1993 .
I had been accompanied by Bheki Zondo , Sizo Mazibuko , and Jabu , a friend of mine from Zola 1 in Soweto , to attend that funeral . Jabu's sister lived in the same street , with the Hani family , in Dawn Park . The deliberations of the day , had started with a programme at FNB Stadium , in Crown Mines . There were some disruptions during that gathering at the stadium , these disruptions were outside , and around the stadium . Teargas soon engulfed some parts of the stadium , as soldiers and police tried to control the crowds . As soon as the program was over , a fleet of cars and buses left the stadium and headed for East Rand , where the burial was to be held . We drove straight to Jabu's sister's house to secure parking for my car , and then we took a short walk to Chris Hani's house to wait for the rest of the mourners , who had gone to the cemetery . Only a small number of people could be accommodated in the cemetery . After the burial , everybody came over to Chris Hani's house , for some refreshments .
This is where , for the very  first time , we were at close proximity with leaders of various political organizations , after their unbanning in 1990 . Most leaders of the African National Congress , who had recently came back exile , were present . People from all walks of life , church leaders , Artists , people from non-profit organizations and many more ,  had all attended this funeral . The whole atmosphere , restored the  lost hope that had been taken away ,  by a number of challenges that our country had been faced with , the assassination of Chris Hani had been one of those challenges . This was a very delicate period in our country . A renewed hope for a brighter future , in the midst of turmoil , anguish and uncertainty , was essential and the atmosphere that prevailed in that funeral , certainly provided that element . There had been sporadic unrests , violence between various political organizations had been in the rise , especially between the ANC and the IFP . Organizations like , AWB , were up in arms , resisting any possible political change , while on the other hand  , ongoing negotiations 
were in progress between the government and  the political parties .
Senseless incidents like , Chris Hani's assassination , brought about unnecessary instability , in an already fragile situation in South Africa .

Bheki Zondo , had a special and rare opportunity to greet and  shake hands with a few people he had always adored but had not met in person , some of whom he would have only seen on television . I think his greatest moment though , was when he shook hands with Jonas Gwanga . I happened to be close by when he shook hands with Jonas , I saw Bheki's face glow with unbelievable excitement , as he stretched out his hand to greet the musical legend himself . Bheki expressed how grateful he was , to meet the legendary Jazz icon in person . I don't think Jonas Gwanga took much  notice of the young fellow , who was undoubtedly over the moon , for having met him . As a public figure , I suppose , he meet a high volume of admirers from time to time .  Bheki Zondo's enthusiasm  , could not have been diminished by any form of  gesture though .
Jonas Gwanga is a South African Jazz musician , a songwriter and a producer , who first gained significance , when he played  trombone for The Epistles . In 1965 , he featured at the " Sounds of Africa" concert at Carnegie hall . He left South Africa in the 1970s , due to political climate in South Africa then , to live abroad . Between 1980 and 1990 , he was the leader of Amandla , the cultural ensemble of the African National Congress . He is also known as a composer who did scores , for films like , Cry Freedom , he also took part at Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Tribute , in Wembley stadium in 1988 . No wonder , why  Bheki couldn't contain his excitement , when he met this legend in person .