The Deputy Minister of Defence & Military Veterans, Thabang Makwetla will host the annual inaugural legacy lecture to honour and celebrate the legacy and times of Dr Tlou T Cholo on the 29th August 2021, at Freedom Park, Tshwane.  The lecture will be delivered by Dr Mavuso Msimang.  This forms part of the government’s pledge to preserve and promote the liberation struggle history and profile military veterans who have contributed in the struggle to bring about peace and a democratic order in South Africa.

The dignitaries that are expected to be in attendance include, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Dr Mavuso Msimang and Dr Gwen Ramokgopa.

Dr Cholo belongs to the uMkhonto We Sizwe’s Luthuli Detachment which consists of founding members of the erstwhile military wing of the governing party (ANC). In the early 1950’s, he became one of South Africa’s pioneer labour activists and founding member of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), the precursor to COSATU.

In recognition of his distinguished and illustrious contributions to the struggle for democracy, the South African government awarded Dr Cholo with the ‘Order of Luthuli’ in Silver in 2009.Furthermore, The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Faculty of Humanities awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate in 2018.

Source: Government of South Africa