Date: 13/05/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: E Pahad: Memorial service for Walter Sisulu
TRIBUTE ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT BY DR ESSOP PAHAD, MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY, AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE TO MARK THE DEATH OF WALTER SISULU, Pretoria, 13 May 2003
The Sisulu Family
All invited guests
As the old order passes into history, as memories of the battlegrounds of Sharpeville, Langa and Soweto dim, our beloved Walter Sisulu stands as a bright and shining light, forever.
And like a storm in the veld did this colossus of a revolutionary leave his imprint, evoking words written by Wally Serote in 1971.
I do not know where I've been
But, brother, I know I am coming
I do not know where I have been
But, brother, I come like a storm over the veld.
The President last week described our fallen comrade, Walter Sisulu, as the "statesman of liberation".
As we all benefit from the remarkable about-turn in history that took South Africa from racist oppression and repression to democracy, we salute this stalwart who played such a crucial role in it all. Our non-racial, non-sexist and democratic nation is his monument that he wanted more than any other. And we must ensure that it continues to be a monument that he can be proud of.
Even in death, Tata Walter Sisulu imparts to us new life, new insights and new strength for the very different, socio-economic struggles that lie ahead. He sets an example for a whole nation to follow. He shows us the way of humility, of dedication, of loyalty to the cause.
It was during the World War II years when my parents, Amina and Goolam Pahad, first came to know Tata and Mama Walter and Albertina Sisulu. Tata and Mama Sisulu were regular visitors to my parents' flat and knew we loved and admired them. We were among the Indian community in South Africa being increasingly politicised by the daily repression inflicted on people of colour. Tata Sisulu was a key person in the construction of the Congress Alliance, as a result of which the ANC formalised an alliance with progressive anti-racist anti-colonialist organised movements of the Indian, white and coloured peoples. In this context, the children of the leaders of the Congress Alliance grew up like brothers and sisters, and experienced at firsthand life outside the confines and stupidities of racism.
Under the leadership of Tata Sisulu, Tata Madiba, Dr Dadoo, Tata OR Tambo, Chief Albert Luthuli and many others, the Indian community fully committed itself to the joint struggle for freedom. Among the Indian community in Johannesburg, where the leaders and activists of the Indian Congress met regularly with the leaders and activists of the ANC, many Indians were inspired to become freedom fighters.
The Sisulus were in the thick of the battle for renewal in the ANC and the liberation of South Africa, and they played a key role in the politicisation of many people, including my family. My family's experience illustrates how countless families and individuals were inspired by the example of the Sisulu family.
So, in a very real sense, my whole family grew up under the watchful eye of this remarkable man we honour today. Tata Walter Sisulu had a depth of passion about freedom that was not negotiable. He had a profound sense of humanity. He worked collaboratively with all those committed to the cause, and he was a shining example in non-racialism and non-sexism. This latter quality is illustrated by the exemplary relationship he had with his beloved wife, whom we all honour today.
His measured influence was particularly valuable to the angry young men and women of my generation, during the darkest of days - those who, with hearts full of the need to fight apartheid and injustice, because they were young, tended to be impetuous and even reckless in their actions and utterances. He taught us the value of, above all, discipline and loyalty to the movement and the masses of our people. Otherwise, there was a real possibility of chaos: people react, with genuine grievance, but with no core coordinating policy and discipline. Splits and dissention could have ruled, if it were not for the amazing leadership we all were given by leaders such as Tata Sisulu.
Even in recent times when both Tata and Mama were not well, instead of talking about their health, they would enquire about other people's health and well being. As so many of us in this hall today will testify, they looked at us in tender, loving and caring eyes and almost in unison say: "we are so proud of all of you".
There were, of course, moments of peril, some lighter than others.
One was when the young Thabo Mbeki was teaching Tata Sisulu to drive a car. It may be that they were using the jalopy, or skorokoro, belonging to the late comrade Duma Nokwe. As the President has related recently, the driving pupil was, rather unusually, given to stopping the car when he saw children in the road and getting out and waving his hands and warning them loudly to keep out of the way! If so, and given who the tutor was, I am not surprised that Tata Sisulu did not really learn to drive. This factor may well have ensured his longevity in the struggle.
His greatest moment of serious peril, of course, was when in 1963 he faced a likely death sentence in the Rivonia trial. He made a vow before the court: "I wish to make this solemn vow and in full appreciation of the consequences it entails. As long as I enjoy the confidence of my people, and as long as there is a spark of life and energy in me, I shall fight with courage and determination for the abolition of discriminatory laws and for the freedom of all South Africans irrespective of colour or creed."
He lived up to that vow, and endured a generation in prison for his commitment. And, he taught us something central to good governance and statehood: the value of loyalty and discipline in any political system worth the name. Much has been said of this remarkable man in this past week, and much more will be said and written. But I should like, as we pay homage to the man Tata Walter Sisulu, to draw attention to a lifetime of loyalty to the ideals, needs and aspirations of the African National Congress and the working-class movement.
It is perhaps the right time to re-focus on these qualities in the body politic. We live in times when it has become almost the fashion to question political loyalty and discipline, and even to make a mockery of the concept. It is said that those who are consistent and loyal are simply the ja-broers or ja-sisters of those in power. But through the life of Tata Sisulu we can see that what made the movement strong was the absolute dedication to the cause by people of his calibre, including others such as OR Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Yusuf Dadoo, Moses Kotane, Lilian Ngoyi, Chris Hani, President Thabo Mbeki and Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and others who always brought creative and critical minds into play. But generally this was done within the structures of the movement; and they never sought to undermine its impetus by indulging in the luxury of destructive public criticism or personal point scoring.
At the funeral of Govan Mbeki, many were moved both to laughter and to tears by a wonderful letter by Tata Sisulu, who was not well enough to attend. He attested to the fact that these two great leaders of the ANC, incarcerated together for so long on Robben Island, never ceased to argue and debate political points for more than fifty years. He accused his comrade of being stubborn, and admitted to the same stubbornness; yet the strongest comradeship and affection persisted across all debates.
But this lively debate, common within the leadership on Robben Island and outside, was never allowed to undermine the united front which the ANC presented to its detractors. It was clearly understood, as is normal practice in any serious and well functioning party, that debate is internal: a united front is presented to the world.
Look at our leaders like Tata Sisulu on Robben Island. Look at those in the United Democratic Front (UDF) and those in exile. If these icons of liberation had not remained totally loyal to the cause, the chances are that the whole movement could have been torn apart - as has happened with some other national liberation movements - by internal strife and personality squabbles. It is a question of retaining one's honest, critical and sincere influence, but within the structures of the organization one has chosen, voluntarily, to support, and to work within. There is no other way, and Tata Sisulu's life reminds us of this most strongly.
In a moving poem Don Mattera writes:
Sleep well, sweet Father,
Sleep well
Your love for us
Is a golden bell
In the heart of this liberated land
In the spirit of our ancestors
When we cry
When we rejoice
Your quiet, gentle voice
Rings and swings across the
African sky;
Giving hope and light to our souls
Driving away the bondage of
darkness
And darkness of human bondage
You, Tata Sisulu
And beautiful Albertina
Two bright beams of sacrifice
Glowing love in the heart
Of a country once in chains
But freed
By your sacrifice
And the beauty
of your dreams
Rest
Sleep, sweet Walter
Among the nation
You are the blest
The government expresses its deepest condolences to the Sisulu family.
Hamba kahle, Tata Sisulu.
Issued by The Presidency, 13 May 2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: E Pahad: Memorial service for Walter Sisulu
TRIBUTE ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT BY DR ESSOP PAHAD, MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY, AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE TO MARK THE DEATH OF WALTER SISULU, Pretoria, 13 May 2003
The Sisulu Family
All invited guests
As the old order passes into history, as memories of the battlegrounds of Sharpeville, Langa and Soweto dim, our beloved Walter Sisulu stands as a bright and shining light, forever.
And like a storm in the veld did this colossus of a revolutionary leave his imprint, evoking words written by Wally Serote in 1971.
I do not know where I've been
But, brother, I know I am coming
I do not know where I have been
But, brother, I come like a storm over the veld.
The President last week described our fallen comrade, Walter Sisulu, as the "statesman of liberation".
As we all benefit from the remarkable about-turn in history that took South Africa from racist oppression and repression to democracy, we salute this stalwart who played such a crucial role in it all. Our non-racial, non-sexist and democratic nation is his monument that he wanted more than any other. And we must ensure that it continues to be a monument that he can be proud of.
Even in death, Tata Walter Sisulu imparts to us new life, new insights and new strength for the very different, socio-economic struggles that lie ahead. He sets an example for a whole nation to follow. He shows us the way of humility, of dedication, of loyalty to the cause.
It was during the World War II years when my parents, Amina and Goolam Pahad, first came to know Tata and Mama Walter and Albertina Sisulu. Tata and Mama Sisulu were regular visitors to my parents' flat and knew we loved and admired them. We were among the Indian community in South Africa being increasingly politicised by the daily repression inflicted on people of colour. Tata Sisulu was a key person in the construction of the Congress Alliance, as a result of which the ANC formalised an alliance with progressive anti-racist anti-colonialist organised movements of the Indian, white and coloured peoples. In this context, the children of the leaders of the Congress Alliance grew up like brothers and sisters, and experienced at firsthand life outside the confines and stupidities of racism.
Under the leadership of Tata Sisulu, Tata Madiba, Dr Dadoo, Tata OR Tambo, Chief Albert Luthuli and many others, the Indian community fully committed itself to the joint struggle for freedom. Among the Indian community in Johannesburg, where the leaders and activists of the Indian Congress met regularly with the leaders and activists of the ANC, many Indians were inspired to become freedom fighters.
The Sisulus were in the thick of the battle for renewal in the ANC and the liberation of South Africa, and they played a key role in the politicisation of many people, including my family. My family's experience illustrates how countless families and individuals were inspired by the example of the Sisulu family.
So, in a very real sense, my whole family grew up under the watchful eye of this remarkable man we honour today. Tata Walter Sisulu had a depth of passion about freedom that was not negotiable. He had a profound sense of humanity. He worked collaboratively with all those committed to the cause, and he was a shining example in non-racialism and non-sexism. This latter quality is illustrated by the exemplary relationship he had with his beloved wife, whom we all honour today.
His measured influence was particularly valuable to the angry young men and women of my generation, during the darkest of days - those who, with hearts full of the need to fight apartheid and injustice, because they were young, tended to be impetuous and even reckless in their actions and utterances. He taught us the value of, above all, discipline and loyalty to the movement and the masses of our people. Otherwise, there was a real possibility of chaos: people react, with genuine grievance, but with no core coordinating policy and discipline. Splits and dissention could have ruled, if it were not for the amazing leadership we all were given by leaders such as Tata Sisulu.
Even in recent times when both Tata and Mama were not well, instead of talking about their health, they would enquire about other people's health and well being. As so many of us in this hall today will testify, they looked at us in tender, loving and caring eyes and almost in unison say: "we are so proud of all of you".
There were, of course, moments of peril, some lighter than others.
One was when the young Thabo Mbeki was teaching Tata Sisulu to drive a car. It may be that they were using the jalopy, or skorokoro, belonging to the late comrade Duma Nokwe. As the President has related recently, the driving pupil was, rather unusually, given to stopping the car when he saw children in the road and getting out and waving his hands and warning them loudly to keep out of the way! If so, and given who the tutor was, I am not surprised that Tata Sisulu did not really learn to drive. This factor may well have ensured his longevity in the struggle.
His greatest moment of serious peril, of course, was when in 1963 he faced a likely death sentence in the Rivonia trial. He made a vow before the court: "I wish to make this solemn vow and in full appreciation of the consequences it entails. As long as I enjoy the confidence of my people, and as long as there is a spark of life and energy in me, I shall fight with courage and determination for the abolition of discriminatory laws and for the freedom of all South Africans irrespective of colour or creed."
He lived up to that vow, and endured a generation in prison for his commitment. And, he taught us something central to good governance and statehood: the value of loyalty and discipline in any political system worth the name. Much has been said of this remarkable man in this past week, and much more will be said and written. But I should like, as we pay homage to the man Tata Walter Sisulu, to draw attention to a lifetime of loyalty to the ideals, needs and aspirations of the African National Congress and the working-class movement.
It is perhaps the right time to re-focus on these qualities in the body politic. We live in times when it has become almost the fashion to question political loyalty and discipline, and even to make a mockery of the concept. It is said that those who are consistent and loyal are simply the ja-broers or ja-sisters of those in power. But through the life of Tata Sisulu we can see that what made the movement strong was the absolute dedication to the cause by people of his calibre, including others such as OR Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Yusuf Dadoo, Moses Kotane, Lilian Ngoyi, Chris Hani, President Thabo Mbeki and Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and others who always brought creative and critical minds into play. But generally this was done within the structures of the movement; and they never sought to undermine its impetus by indulging in the luxury of destructive public criticism or personal point scoring.
At the funeral of Govan Mbeki, many were moved both to laughter and to tears by a wonderful letter by Tata Sisulu, who was not well enough to attend. He attested to the fact that these two great leaders of the ANC, incarcerated together for so long on Robben Island, never ceased to argue and debate political points for more than fifty years. He accused his comrade of being stubborn, and admitted to the same stubbornness; yet the strongest comradeship and affection persisted across all debates.
But this lively debate, common within the leadership on Robben Island and outside, was never allowed to undermine the united front which the ANC presented to its detractors. It was clearly understood, as is normal practice in any serious and well functioning party, that debate is internal: a united front is presented to the world.
Look at our leaders like Tata Sisulu on Robben Island. Look at those in the United Democratic Front (UDF) and those in exile. If these icons of liberation had not remained totally loyal to the cause, the chances are that the whole movement could have been torn apart - as has happened with some other national liberation movements - by internal strife and personality squabbles. It is a question of retaining one's honest, critical and sincere influence, but within the structures of the organization one has chosen, voluntarily, to support, and to work within. There is no other way, and Tata Sisulu's life reminds us of this most strongly.
In a moving poem Don Mattera writes:
Sleep well, sweet Father,
Sleep well
Your love for us
Is a golden bell
In the heart of this liberated land
In the spirit of our ancestors
When we cry
When we rejoice
Your quiet, gentle voice
Rings and swings across the
African sky;
Giving hope and light to our souls
Driving away the bondage of
darkness
And darkness of human bondage
You, Tata Sisulu
And beautiful Albertina
Two bright beams of sacrifice
Glowing love in the heart
Of a country once in chains
But freed
By your sacrifice
And the beauty
of your dreams
Rest
Sleep, sweet Walter
Among the nation
You are the blest
The government expresses its deepest condolences to the Sisulu family.
Hamba kahle, Tata Sisulu.
Issued by The Presidency, 13 May 2003
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
