Former Chairperson of the now-disbanded Mkonto we Sizwe Military Veteran’s Association (MKMVA) Kebby Maphatsoe has passed on.
[JUST-IN] Former MKMVA President Kebby Maphatsoe is no more. He passed away this afternoon, Maphatsoe was also an ANC MP and former Deputy Minister of Defence and military veterans. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/NjhPEDZA2J
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) August 31, 2021
Mapatsoe served as Deputy Minister for Defence and Military Veterans between 2014 and 2019.
Under his direction, the MKMVA became an integral component of the African National Congress (ANC).
However, in recent years the MKMVA has been accused of being a factional organisation and having taken a militaristic approach without the mandate of the governing party.
Tributes are pouring in, following his passing.
Maphatsoe was a trained political soldier of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
Maphatsoe was also no stranger in government. This as he served as Deputy Minister of Defence from 2014 to 2019. He was also an ANC MP.
In recent months, he’s been vocal about the latest developments surrounding former president Jacob Zuma, including his arrest for contempt of court.
Maphatsoe was also a former member of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas), Soweto Youth Congress (SOYCO) and South African Youth Congress (SAYCO).
He went to Angola and the Soviet Union to receive his training and was also exiled in Uganda before returning to South Africa.
Under his political direction, MKMVA became an integral component of the ANC.
Party Spokesperson Pule Mabe has confirmed that the vocal politician is no more.
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