Remembering Dr Hugo Nkabinde
On 7 July 1988, Dr Thamsanqa Blessing Fihlela (aka “Dr Hugo Nkabinde”) lost his life in an ambush in Angola, a few days after his 30th birthday. He died on duty, selflessly serving our heroic People’s Army, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). Blessing Fihlela was born in Chesterville, Durban, in 1958. He became politically active at a relatively early age, and was involved in many of the student struggles of the time, which culminated in the 1976 student uprisings. He did his high school education at KwaDlangezwa High School, following in the footsteps of Comrades Vusi Mavimbela (aka “Klaus Maphepha”) and Jabulani Nobleman Nxumalo (aka “Mzala”).
Overcoming all obstacles created by the apartheid system and its deplorable Bantu Education, he completed his matric and enrolled at Wentworth Medical School. During his second year, he was detained for seven months, spending most of it in solitary confinement for underground activities. After his release, he left the country, joined the African National Congress (ANC) and was sent to the Soviet Union to further his studies. Upon qualifying as a doctor, he returned to Africa and did his year’s internship in Tanzania, where he made many friends.
Dr Hugo then volunteered to join and serve in our army, Umkhonto we Sizwe, rejecting all the comforts of practicing elsewhere. In 1987, Dr Hugo Nkabinde arrived at Pango Camp, an Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) camp in Angola, for a specialised military training
