Ashley Kriel, freedom fighter: 35 years later

GEORGE NEWS - "You get swallowed in by your neighbourhood. You get married, live in your parents' home or yard, the girls get pregnant. Then, your life is over. There is no way out." This is a comment by one of the many speakers in the documentary film Action Kommandant about the life of the apartheid activist, Ashley Kriel.

The harsh reality of the apartheid regime and a teenager's fight for freedom gripped the handful of people who spent their Saturday afternoon at the George Civic Hall last Saturday 9 July to watch this documentary by filmmaker Nadine Cloete.

Those who came to see the documentary had the opportunity to listen to a panel discussion afterwards.

The film was showcased in George in commemoration of Kriel's death 35 years ago, on 9 July 1987. "The idea is to remind the public and wider communities of his heroic deeds. He was a hero to all," explained organiser of the event, political activist Hein Scheepers.

Action Kommandant was first released in 2016 and is currently only available on ShowMax. Kriel was a member of the political movement, uMkhonto we Sizwe, and had a great influence on the youth. He was a native of Bonteheuwel in Cape Town and was shot dead on 9 July 1987, at the age of 20, while living at a safety house in Athlone.

Photo gallery: Documentary film screened to commemorate Ashley Kriel

Sadness and hurt
In the words of Claudia Britz, one of the panel members, even if one missed the full blow of the apartheid regime, one can grasp and feel the sadness and hurt of those who lived through it all. The documentary includes interviews with Kriel's family members, former MK members, friends, a school teacher who provided a safe space for her learners and a forensic expert.

It was a time when 13-year-old children joined underground structures to fight for their freedom and education rights. Petrol bomb recipes were shared and a Dairy-Belle truck was looted by two teenage girls to provide yogurt and milk to mommies at the clinics. Robin Hood-principles were justified as a means of survival.

At one stage in his life, young Ashley Kriel was involved in all the leadership structures, posing a danger to the whole operation. "Freedom in our lifetime" was one of his slogans. He left the country with a rucksack on his back to become a soldier, while being hunted in South Africa. He came back as a muscular, handsome man, and was shot in Athlone, in a safe house. He couldn't stay away from the Bonteheuwel community he loved so much.

The panel: Lorryn Glynis Williams (US doctoral student in social science), Claudia "Yoma" Britz (Afrikaans hip hop artist), Carlo Randal (indigenous medicine practitioner), Phumolang Castro Leholo (MK veteran) and George Speaker Sean Snyman took part in the discussion. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

Panel discussion
The panel invited to take part in discussions consisted of a group of five individuals, who shared their thoughts on three questions presented by Scheepers:

Did Ashley die in vain?
If Ashley would be alive today, what do you think his stance would be?
As leaders and activists, how are we going to affect change in the system to find peace and security?

George Speaker Sean Snyman, Claudia "Yoma" Britz (Afrikaans hip hop artist), Carlo Randal (indigenous medicine practitioner), Phumolang Castro Leholo (MK veteran) and Lorryn Glynis Williams (US doctoral student in social science) took part in the discussion. Ego Nege, chat rhyme artist and film director, filmed the event.

According to Britz his death would be in vain if we don't remember why he made the sacrifices.

Williams said sometimes one gets too comfortable in an academic sphere, feeling there is more that can be done for the people.

Randal said it is our responsibility to continue the work Kriel has started, while Leholo touched on the emotive, saying "I am not emotional, but the wounds that I suffer from are being scratched." He said his parents cried because of how they were treated at work. "Kriel gave the ultimate sacrifice. Then you had two choices - to submit or fight."

Snyman said the youth of the past fought for equality and freedom. "Yet, we sit today where we are still being judged for our past, where we come from. By his activism Ashley changed the lives of his whole community. Today people live for themselves. We have forgotten about 'us' and 'ours'."

Heroes of the Freedom Fight. Photo: screenshot of the film