Geingob’s Botswana assassination attempt relived

African National Congress (ANC) apartheid stalwart Mavuso Msimang recalled the first time he met late president Hage Geingob in exile in Francistown, Botswana, and how the two were almost killed by the apartheid government.

This followed a planned escape into exile where both Geingob and Msimang were meant to advance the fight for freedom for their respective countries, and were waiting for the ANC to avail a chartered aircraft on which they were supposed to travel. The incident occurred in 1963, when both men were just 22.

“The evening before we were to fly out, the agents of the South African [apartheid] regime had placed a bomb on the plane and it exploded, and so the flight was cancelled. Clearly they wanted to stop it from flying,” Msimang said of the incident that almost lead to his death and that of Geingob at the time.

Geingob, who died on Sunday in Windhoek after a short battle with cancer, would live on for 61 more years.

Not deterred

The assassination attempt did not deter the group, but only strengthened their resolve to continue on their assigned missions in exile, Msimang said.

“We were very frustrated and angry about how we would fly out. More than anything, it was just a frustration. We were not frightened; I do not think so,” he said.

The bomb scare had the opposite effect of dissuading the freedom fighters, and - in fact - brought the two groups together during their stay in Botswana.

“We were really one group. Somehow, my little group attracted the late president and we got to know each other,” Msimang recalled.

Reflecting on their relationship after Namibia and South Africa gained independence, Msimang said he did not maintain particularly close ties with Geingob despite sharing a significant event in their lives.

“We had sporadic communication, [but] we were both doing different things,” he said.

Msimang has held various CEO positions in South African public entities. In July 2023, he was elected ANC Veterans' League deputy president.

Francistown remembers

Meanwhile, residents of Francistown - or the Blue Town, as it is known by locals - remembered their time with Geingob while he was a resident there.

In an interview with Daily News, Priscilla Kaoyao recalled Geingob’s nature.

He lived in a small shack known as the 'White House', a humble home that belied his stature and influence, she said.

“Like its counterpart, the White House in Blue Town symbolised a place of dignity, hope and unity,” Kaoyao added.

Another Francistown resident, Mpho Ofetotse, reminisced about Geingob’s time in Botswana.

“I am not surprised that he eventually became president because he always predicted that during our interactions with him. No wonder [Geingob] was a dear friend of our president, and I understand why. I wish he could have come to Blue Town to see just how much his presence here meant to us."