The hills of Lurhwayizo was alive with memory and reflection today as Mbhashe Local Municipality hosted a guided heritage tour at the historic homestead of Mbulelo Alfred Ngono. The event forms part of the activation programme for the Ilifa Lombhashe Festival, drew community members, leaders and visitors to a site that stands as a symbol of courage and sacrifice.
The guided tour retraced the story of the Battle of Lurhwayizo, a 36-hour shoot-out that took place on 21 and 22 January 1987. During those two days, Ngono and his fellow Umkhonto we Sizwe combatants held out against overwhelming firepower from apartheid forces, including encouraging support.
Addressing participants, Executive Mayor Councillor Samkelo Janda described the tour as a journey that connects past and present. “This is more than a commemoration, it is about transforming our heritage into a living legacy. We honour the bravery of our heroes by ensuring that their sacrifices inspire social cohesion, education and sustainable local development,” he said.
The municipality has placed the Battle of Lurhwayizo Heritage Development Project at the heart of its plans for tourism and cultural promotion. By activating the site through tours and festival events. Mbhashe LM aims to position heritage as a driver of economic opportunities, while preserving the memory of struggle for future generations.
As the ILifa LoMbhashe Festival gains momentum, the guided tour at Lurhwayizo has set the tone: a celebration of heritage, a tribute to sacrifice and a powerful step in turning memory into progress.
