Latest news with #NativeMilitaryCorps
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Oti Mabuse breaks down in tears on Loose Women after emotional family revelation
Oti Mabuse was seen getting emotional on the Loose Women panel earlier today, as she reminisced on her time on the TV show DNA journey with her sister Motsi Oti Mabuse emotional as she chats about her family history Oti Mabuse broke down in tears on today's episode of Loose Women as she spoke about her emotional journey on the show, DNA Journey. During the episode of the ITV show, which aired in 2023, Oti and Motsi Mabuse explored their family history in South Africa, in which they discovered a WWII connection. Their grandfather, Paulus Mabuse, fought for the British in the Native Military Corps during the war. During the ITV daytime show, Oti revisited a clip of herself and her sister Motsi when they found out, which moved her to tears. In the clip, Oti and Motsi were seen breaking down in tears when they were given medals their grandfather received for his work in the armed forces. 'It's a good thing, it's an amazing thing. Please don't think we're sad. One of the missing pieces that we've missed and needed to hear for so long, it's a beautiful thing. We're so grateful. These are tears of, "Oh my God!"' The pair said they had "no idea" that there were war medals in their family, as they learnt their grandfather fought for the British in World War II. Oti revealed that her grandfather, along with many others were promised land. However, they were relocated and left in the middle of nowhere. Oti said it made her feel "horrendous" as she said both her and Motsi cried their make-up off. However, she said they felt liberated knowing where they come from. "Now I know that I'm a granddaughter of a soldier," she told the panel, before the clip was played. As they cut back to the studio after the clip was played, Oti wiped away he tears as she said: "It's moving. "Also, I think that we tried to look for something, we didn't wait for the show to come to us. We also asked our parents, and you can see the generational trauma that it causes. "My dad didn't speak to his dad and so he didn't know. All that they knew is maybe they drank, they went to the mine, and then they died. He didn't know that his life served a purpose and he helped save the world. "We're here because of people like our grandad, and it means the world to us." Speaking on her experience on Loose Women, Oti said it was the "best show" she'd ever done. "It gave me something personally back. Our history in South Africa is really rough. Specifically with my family it was wiped out, so we had no way of getting any information." Tonight, Sam Thompson and Marvin Humes will be taking part in the ITV show to discover their family history. In the episode, the duo start off in Jamaica. There, JLS star Marvin finds out that his Great Grandma Blanche was not actually married to his Great Grandfather David James. They had four children, but immediately after the fourth, Marvin's Grandma Ruby, was born in 1930, David James left. Meanwhile, Sam flies into a panic when he is told he has an ancestor who spent time in Jamaica. 'It doesn't sounds good, don't say it..' he says. However, he is relieved to learn there is no slavery connection. It comes after Sam admits to Marvin that he knew "nothing" about his family history before taking part in the show.
IOL News
10-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
From sacrifice to celebration: South African Legion marks 80 years of VE Day
Teenager Lucas Johannes Wolmarans (far right) Fourie (centre) and Cowley (left) from Langlaage Minesweeper at Ismailia (Egypt) rest camp during WWII. Image: Supplied The South African Legion will paid tribute to the brave men and women who served during World War II, with a special three-day commemoration marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. Hosted at the Castle of Good Hope from 8–10 May, the exhibition and memorial service aimed to honour those whose contributions have long gone unrecognised. VE Day, which marked the formal end of WWII in Europe on 8 May 1945, may feel like a distant memory to many, but for thousands of South African families, its significance remains deeply personal. Over 334,000 South Africans volunteered for service during the war—many of them young, idealistic, and eager to serve, despite the odds stacked against them. Among these were more than 123,000 men of colour who served in non-combat and support roles, often under challenging and discriminatory conditions. 'This soldier did the most magnificent and brave things. With a number of bullets in his body he returned time after time into a veritable hell of machine-gun fire to pull out wounded men. He is a credit to his country,' said Major-General Dan Pienaar, speaking of Lance-Corporal Lucas Majozi, a Black stretcher-bearer who was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his heroism at El Alamein. WAAF Sergeant fitting gas mask Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The event at the Castle was more than just a history lesson. It was a space to reflect, remember, and reconnect with stories of resilience and sacrifice—stories often left out of mainstream narratives. The exhibition included rare archival photos, first-hand testimonies, and displays dedicated to the Native Military Corps, the Cape Corps, and the thousands of women who played vital roles through the Women's Auxiliary Defence Corps and the South African Women's Auxiliary Services (SAWAS). These women served in the air force, navy, medical units and even the military police, often unpaid and unrecognised. 'We did everything we could, the best we could… and that's it,' recalled naval veteran Lucas Wolmarans—a sentiment echoed by many veterans whose service was quiet but steadfast. Cape Corps Strecher bearers before Monte Caprara battle (Italy) Image: Supplied The commemoration will culminate in a non-denominational memorial service at 11am on Saturday, 10 May. Ian Neilson, former Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, will deliver a keynote on behalf of the Mayor. The service will feature performances by Christel House South Africa's Brass Ensemble and Jazz Band—young musicians from one of the city's most inspiring no-fee schools—as well as the sounding of the Last Post by five trumpeters from South African College High School (SACS), a school known for its longstanding tradition of military remembrance. 'The importance of continuing to mark the anniversary of this global event that had such a profound effect on modern history, is to remind us of the horrors of war and to value the sanctity of peace, lest we forget the former,' said Kevin P. Ashton JCD, Chairman of the SA Legion Cape Town Branch. Benghazi - Lt Hymie Markman_Lt Hymie Markman with 16 Squadron, SAAF, drivers and local Arabic man on donkey Image: Supplied Today will also feature a WWII re-enactment field kitchen, run by The Heritage Group in period dress, sales tables with military-themed books, and a public engagement booth hosted by Commander Mac Bisset (retired) of the Western Cape Military History Society. Members of the public can bring family medals for identification, learn how to access veterans' records, or simply share in a moment of reflection. Visitors are also invited to add a personal message to the Peace Wall—a tribute to the enduring hope for a more peaceful future. South Africa's contribution to the war effort was vast. Besides full-time volunteers, there were more than 63,000 part-time military volunteers across defence, engineering, naval, and home guard units. A further 60,000 unpaid volunteers—many of them women—supported wartime operations through knitting circles, fundraising, and local war effort campaigns. The Cape Coloured Women War Workers (CWWW) and Native Women War Workers (NWWW) were instrumental in this, with 123 active branches and over 6,000 members nationally. Today, close to 12,000 South Africans who died during WWII are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, including some 2,000 with no known graves. The Military Museum at the Castle, one of South Africa's oldest heritage sites, will house the exhibition—a fitting location to honour those who helped shape the modern world, often at great personal cost. Tickets to the Castle are R50 for adults and R25 for children and pensioners, available at the ticket office. Exhibition hours run from 9am to 4pm daily. The South African Legion, formed in 1921 by war veterans including Field Marshall Earl Haig and General Jan Smuts, continues its work today—supporting former servicemen and women, advocating for war pensions, and preserving military heritage for future generations. Weekend Argus
