December 16 is known throughout South Africa as "Heroes Day". On that day Umkhonto we Sizwe was formed in 1961.
123 years after impis of Dingane confronted the white invaders at banks of the Income River, which the racists call "Blood River". We publish a leaflet which announced the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe on December 16, 1961.
Units of Umkhonto we Sizwe today carried out planned attacks against Government installations. particulary those connected with the policy of apartheid and race discrimination.
Umkhonto we Sizwe is a new independent body, formed by Africans. Its includes in its ranks South Africans of all races. It is not connected in any way with the so called "Committee for National Liberation" whose existence has been announced in the in press. Umkhonto we Sizwe will carry on the struggle for freedom and democracy by new methods, which are necessary to complement the actions of the established national liberation movement, and our members, jointly and individually, place themselves under the overall political guidance of that movement.
It is however, well known that the main national liberation organisations in this country have consistently followed a policy of non-violence. They have conducted themselves peaceably at all times, regardless of Government attacks and persecutions upon them, and despite all Government -inspired attempts to provoke them to violence. They have done so because the people prefer peaceful methods of change to achieve their aspirations without the suffering and bitterness of civil war. But the people's patience is not endless.
The time comes in the life of any nation where there remains only two choices: submit of fight. That time has now come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means within our power in defense of our people, our future and our freedom.
The Government has interpreted the peacefulness of the movement as weakness, the people's non violent policies have been taken a green light for Government violence. Refusal to restore to force has been interpreted by the Government as an invitation to use armed force against the people without any fear of reprisals. The methods of Umkhonto we Sizwe mark a break with the past.
We are striking out along a new road for the liberation of the people of this country. The Government policy of force, repression and violence will no longer be met with non-violent resistance only! The choice is not ours, it has been made by the Nationalist Government which has rejected every peaceable demand by the people for rights and freedom and answered every such demand with force and yet more force!
Twice in the past 18 months, virtual martial law has been imposed in order to beat down peaceful, non-violent strike action of the people in support of their rights. It is now preparing its forces enlarging and rearming its armed forces and drawing white civilian population into commandos and pistol clubs - for full scale military actions against the people. The Nationalist Government has chosen the course of force and massacre, now, deliberately, as it did at Sharpville.
Umkhonto we Sizwe will be at the front line of the people's defence. It will be fighting arm of the people against the Government and its policies of race and oppression. It will be the striking force of the people for liberty, for rights and for their final liberation! Let Government, its supporters who have put it into power, and those whose passive toleration of reaction keeps it in power, take note where the Nationalist Government is leading the country!
We of Umkhonto we Sizwe have always sought - to achieve liberation, with ought bloodshed and civil clash. We do still we hope - even at this late hour - that our first actions will awaken everyone to the first realization of the disastrous situation to which the nationalist policy is leading. We hope that we will bring the Government and its supporters to their senses before it is too late, so that both Government and its policies can be changed before matters reach the desperate stage of civil war. We believe our actions to be a blow against the Nationalist preparations for civil war and military rule.
In these actions , we are working in the best interests of all the people of this country - black, brown and white- whose future happiness and well being cannot be attained without the over throw of this nationalist Government, the abolition of white supremacy and the winning of liberty, democracy and full national rights and equality for all the people of this country.
We appeal for the support and encouragement of all those South Africans who seek the happiness and freedom of the people of this country.
Issued by Command of Umhkonto we Sizwe
Taken from: Sechaba vol 13 1979