Paying Homage to the “Dolphin”: Montso “Obadi” Mokgabudi
On 10 February 1981, Montso “Obadi” Mokgabudi (aka “Dolphin Ngake”) succumbed to his wounds, when his guts were ripped open during an attack on the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Special Operations Unit Headquarters, in Matola, by racist SADF (South African Defence Force) Special Forces, on 30 January 1981. He was brutally shot at and passed on later, on 10 February 1981, in a hospital in Mozambique.
Born on 11 April 1951, Montso was one of the most outstanding soldiers of the People’s Army, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). Fondly known to his MK Comrades as “Obadi”, Montso came from Orlando, and studied law at Turfloop (University of the North, now University of Limpopo), before his expulsion for political activities. Whilst he was out of school, he worked as a teacher and television (TV) technician. As a former South African Students Organisation (SASO) activist, while he was a student at Turfloop, he matured into the African National Congress (ANC) and ultimately into the People’s Army, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), after leaving the country six months before the 1976 June 16 Uprisings.
According to Alexander Sibeko, Montso “learnt easily and quickly, but pondered deeply about political problems. He questioned incessantly. He liked to think things over, to gestate; and then come back for further discussions. He had qualities of leadership and commanded tremendous respect amongst his peers. He epitomised t
