Publications
Partners
A galvanised welded mesh gate could have been opened for President Cyril Ramaphosa to access Solomon Thekiso Plaatje’s grave and a lay a wreath, but the fence was missing when he got there this morning.
It had been torn down and removed by some Plaatje family members who saw it as a “cage” around the grave that was “creating a barrier for everyone”.
Those who took down the fence also snubbed the wreath-laying ceremony held at West End cemetery in Kimberley in the Northern Cape earlier today, saying they were “not invited”.
However, there were other family members who attended and witnessed Ramaphosa laying a wreath at the foot of the towering obelisk headstone that marked Plaatje’s grave.
This was indicative of the deepening rifts among the Plaatjes.
One faction confirmed to City Press today that they went to the political icon’s grave this past Saturday to remove the state-funded fence.
They said they were not consulted on any plans to erect a fence around the grave and that, if consulted, they would not have agreed to what they called a “cage”.
One of those “family members” is Sebeka Plaatje, who is also a member of the Sol Plaatje Educational Trust.
He said they didn’t have a problem Ramaphosa or the ANC visiting the grave. “In fact, we welcome the gesture that our great-grandfather was to be honoured.
“We, however, could not allow things to be done wrongly. I watched the wreath-laying ceremony on television and it was beautiful … pity we could not attend because we were not invited,” he said.
Sebeka said he understood some Plaatje family members were there with Ramaphosa but said he “did not know who they are”.
The other faction
Obakeng Plaatje was among those who attended the wreath-laying ceremony.
“If he Sebeka does not know who those people are, then they also don’t know who he is,” he said.
“There were about 60 family members who attended the ceremony. It is true that we are divided as a family and I have tried to reach out to Sebeka and others without success,” he said.
Obakeng confirmed that he had been in communication with government officials over the grave project.
He said he was “mandated by the family to represent them”.
“Sebeka and others were never mandated by the family and I was with the entire family from several provinces in Kimberley today. If Sebeka and the others were not invited, why did they go vandalise the Old Man’s grave?” Obakeng said.
“In fact, as I speak now we’re meeting as a family and discussing a family reunion. We’re not the ones who are fighting the government or the ANC and we’re not part of the trust, which is run privately.”
Who are the real descendants?
Sebeka said he was one of the “direct descendants” of Sol Plaatje.
“People who were consulted regarding the grave are those already in the political circle and not direct descendants.
“Sol Plaatje had five children and we don’t know where these ones who are manipulating the situation and doing things to gain political mileage come from,” he said.
“Direct descendants of Plaatje did not attend the wreath-laying ceremony – hence I am saying we don’t know those who attended.
“Illegitimate people were used and agreed to a cage around Sol Plaatje’s grave and I doubt if they’d accept the same for their own parents’ graves.”
Sebeka has challenged Obakeng to explain his lineage.
“The simple question is who among the children of Sol Plaatje is/are his parents/lineage to warrant him the authority on matters of Plaatje?”
Obakeng threw it back at Sebeka saying he “should be able to explain himself better as a direct descendant … he is my cousin and we all attended the funeral of one of our elders a few weeks ago”.
“As the family, descendants of Plaatje, we all have right … we’re all Plaatjes.
“Sebeka works with my sister’s son at the trust and he must now say who he is – that I am not – when it comes to the Plaatje family,” he said.
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
