Date: 14/05/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Memorial Service for Walter Sisulu, Cape Town
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MR WALTER SISULU, Cape Town, 14 May 2003
Director of the Programme, Madam Speaker, President Mbeki,
Mama Sisulu and family at home,
Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Chairperson of the NCOP,
Former President De Klerk,
Rivonia Trialists and Veterans,
The Premier of Cape Town,
MPs and MPLs,
Leaders of Opposition Parties,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Religious leaders,
Fellow South Africans,
We are gathered here today, joining many of our compatriots and members of the international community worldwide, to pay tribute to a selfless hero, who gave up his own freedom, so that his compatriots could be free.
We feel small in stature, to be given a task of paying tribute to this larger than life figure, who makes us proud to be South African. There are many wonderful things about being a South African.
One of these is to belong to a country, which has produced so many outstanding leaders and patriots, who have always had a clear vision of how to make our country a better place to live in, such as Tata Sisulu and his generation.
Tata Sisulu was born in 1912, the same year of the birth of the ANC, - as if destiny required him to become a child of the revolution from beginning to end.
Being as old as the ANC itself, Tata Sisulu's history has been absolutely intertwined with the history of the movement, and the struggle for a free and democratic South Africa.
He lived through all forms of struggle - passive resistance, militant defiance campaigns, underground struggle, as well as the final phase of the armed struggle, and negotiations leading to the ushering in of democracy in our country, wherein his movement became a governing party.
His tenure as Secretary General of the ANC during the 1950s involved the conceptualisation and articulation of a programme of action, leading up to the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which provided a clear vision of the type of society we wanted.
This was the most critical period in the history of the movement, which had been preceded by Xhamela as Secretary General, writing to the then Prime Minister DF Malan, demanding the repeal of apartheid laws, failing which the movement would embark on a defiance campaign.
As we celebrate his life today, we should recall the long and winding route he took, the sacrifices he made, and the lessons he has left behind to future generations.
Tata Sisulu was indeed born during a very turbulent time in South African history.
In 1906, the Bhambatha rebellion, a heroic last stand by the African people, marked the end to many generations of armed resistance against the colonial occupation of our country. These had been fought in many parts of the country at different times.
This period introduced a new phase of struggle, united action by the oppressed under a modern political movement, the ANC.
This was also a period of non-violent passive resistance campaigns led by Mahatma Gandhi as well as the era of the passing of the 1913 Land Act, which dispossessed the majority of land. It was also a phase that saw an assertion of religious freedom. Many broke away from mainstream churches, and established African independent churches.
We should be proud, as South Africans, to have shared this soil with Cde Xhamela, who ranks alongside the great leaders of anti-colonial struggles in the world, with the likes of Nehru, Nasser, Surkano, Seme, Xuma, John Dube, Kenyatta, Nkrumah, Nyerere, Luthuli, and many others who led their people to liberation.
There are many lessons that we should learn from Tata Sisulu's book of life. He epitomised all that is good about human nature - his humility, tolerance, selflessness, honesty and integrity, ability to communicate with the masses at all levels, and in his ability to unite people for the common good of all South Africans.
All these attributes make him, without any shadow of doubt, a truly fitting icon and symbol of the country's moral regeneration campaign - a persona we should aspire to emulate.
The foot soldiers of the revolution drew their inspiration from his unwavering faith that the struggle for freedom would be won in the end. It was that type of inner strength that he exuded, that served to give hope and inspire all around him.
The current and future generations are also reminded by Tata that we should put the interests of our country first, before those of our own, and that the people we serve should always come first.
Above all, he taught us what it is to be a disciplined cadre of the movement, for he was among the most disciplined members of the ANC, who preached and practiced collective leadership, in a very exemplary manner.
In 1994, we entered another arena of struggle, that of implementing our vision of bringing about a better life for all in our country, working together as South Africans.
Tata Sisulu became one of our unifying figures. He transcended political and other boundaries, and became a leader that all South Africans looked up to, regardless of political or other divides.
The presence of representatives of opposition political parties today bears testimony to the manner in which his leadership had moved beyond the bounds of his organisation.
Programme director, I would be failing in my duty if I do not pay tribute to Mama Sisulu. She fought side by side with her husband for the freedom of this country, and was a leader in her own right within the mass democratic movement.
She raised her children single-handedly while Tata was in prison, providing them and their father with support and encouragement at all times.
She stood by her husband in sickness and in health, in pain and joy, and indeed, it was in her arms that he took his last breath.
She has reminded us of the importance of strengthening families as the rock upon which our communities are founded. We pay tribute to you Mama, for promoting the values we must strive to revive in our society, and in our lives.
Comrade Elinor Sisulu has captured Tata's story and his legacy in the biography "In Our Lifetime" - a truly fitting tribute to an exemplary couple.
We do hope that this is a story that future generations will be told in schools and other settings, as part of the literature of a free South Africa.
We need to proudly extol the virtues of our great selfless African giants, who worked so hard so that our dignity as human beings could be restored.
Compatriots, we have lost a beloved comrade, a father, icon, leader and teacher, a man of the people, a great organiser, an outstanding strategist and a giant among giants.
He has played his part, and must now be allowed to rest. The challenge remains with those left behind, to begin the difficult task of walking in his footsteps.
Lala ngoxolo Xhamela, uwusebenzele uMzantsi Afrika
Ziyafa izinsizwa, Ayafa amaqhawe, kodwa
ziyasala izibongo!
I thank you.
Issued by The Presidency
14 May 2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Memorial Service for Walter Sisulu, Cape Town
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MR WALTER SISULU, Cape Town, 14 May 2003
Director of the Programme, Madam Speaker, President Mbeki,
Mama Sisulu and family at home,
Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Chairperson of the NCOP,
Former President De Klerk,
Rivonia Trialists and Veterans,
The Premier of Cape Town,
MPs and MPLs,
Leaders of Opposition Parties,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Religious leaders,
Fellow South Africans,
We are gathered here today, joining many of our compatriots and members of the international community worldwide, to pay tribute to a selfless hero, who gave up his own freedom, so that his compatriots could be free.
We feel small in stature, to be given a task of paying tribute to this larger than life figure, who makes us proud to be South African. There are many wonderful things about being a South African.
One of these is to belong to a country, which has produced so many outstanding leaders and patriots, who have always had a clear vision of how to make our country a better place to live in, such as Tata Sisulu and his generation.
Tata Sisulu was born in 1912, the same year of the birth of the ANC, - as if destiny required him to become a child of the revolution from beginning to end.
Being as old as the ANC itself, Tata Sisulu's history has been absolutely intertwined with the history of the movement, and the struggle for a free and democratic South Africa.
He lived through all forms of struggle - passive resistance, militant defiance campaigns, underground struggle, as well as the final phase of the armed struggle, and negotiations leading to the ushering in of democracy in our country, wherein his movement became a governing party.
His tenure as Secretary General of the ANC during the 1950s involved the conceptualisation and articulation of a programme of action, leading up to the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which provided a clear vision of the type of society we wanted.
This was the most critical period in the history of the movement, which had been preceded by Xhamela as Secretary General, writing to the then Prime Minister DF Malan, demanding the repeal of apartheid laws, failing which the movement would embark on a defiance campaign.
As we celebrate his life today, we should recall the long and winding route he took, the sacrifices he made, and the lessons he has left behind to future generations.
Tata Sisulu was indeed born during a very turbulent time in South African history.
In 1906, the Bhambatha rebellion, a heroic last stand by the African people, marked the end to many generations of armed resistance against the colonial occupation of our country. These had been fought in many parts of the country at different times.
This period introduced a new phase of struggle, united action by the oppressed under a modern political movement, the ANC.
This was also a period of non-violent passive resistance campaigns led by Mahatma Gandhi as well as the era of the passing of the 1913 Land Act, which dispossessed the majority of land. It was also a phase that saw an assertion of religious freedom. Many broke away from mainstream churches, and established African independent churches.
We should be proud, as South Africans, to have shared this soil with Cde Xhamela, who ranks alongside the great leaders of anti-colonial struggles in the world, with the likes of Nehru, Nasser, Surkano, Seme, Xuma, John Dube, Kenyatta, Nkrumah, Nyerere, Luthuli, and many others who led their people to liberation.
There are many lessons that we should learn from Tata Sisulu's book of life. He epitomised all that is good about human nature - his humility, tolerance, selflessness, honesty and integrity, ability to communicate with the masses at all levels, and in his ability to unite people for the common good of all South Africans.
All these attributes make him, without any shadow of doubt, a truly fitting icon and symbol of the country's moral regeneration campaign - a persona we should aspire to emulate.
The foot soldiers of the revolution drew their inspiration from his unwavering faith that the struggle for freedom would be won in the end. It was that type of inner strength that he exuded, that served to give hope and inspire all around him.
The current and future generations are also reminded by Tata that we should put the interests of our country first, before those of our own, and that the people we serve should always come first.
Above all, he taught us what it is to be a disciplined cadre of the movement, for he was among the most disciplined members of the ANC, who preached and practiced collective leadership, in a very exemplary manner.
In 1994, we entered another arena of struggle, that of implementing our vision of bringing about a better life for all in our country, working together as South Africans.
Tata Sisulu became one of our unifying figures. He transcended political and other boundaries, and became a leader that all South Africans looked up to, regardless of political or other divides.
The presence of representatives of opposition political parties today bears testimony to the manner in which his leadership had moved beyond the bounds of his organisation.
Programme director, I would be failing in my duty if I do not pay tribute to Mama Sisulu. She fought side by side with her husband for the freedom of this country, and was a leader in her own right within the mass democratic movement.
She raised her children single-handedly while Tata was in prison, providing them and their father with support and encouragement at all times.
She stood by her husband in sickness and in health, in pain and joy, and indeed, it was in her arms that he took his last breath.
She has reminded us of the importance of strengthening families as the rock upon which our communities are founded. We pay tribute to you Mama, for promoting the values we must strive to revive in our society, and in our lives.
Comrade Elinor Sisulu has captured Tata's story and his legacy in the biography "In Our Lifetime" - a truly fitting tribute to an exemplary couple.
We do hope that this is a story that future generations will be told in schools and other settings, as part of the literature of a free South Africa.
We need to proudly extol the virtues of our great selfless African giants, who worked so hard so that our dignity as human beings could be restored.
Compatriots, we have lost a beloved comrade, a father, icon, leader and teacher, a man of the people, a great organiser, an outstanding strategist and a giant among giants.
He has played his part, and must now be allowed to rest. The challenge remains with those left behind, to begin the difficult task of walking in his footsteps.
Lala ngoxolo Xhamela, uwusebenzele uMzantsi Afrika
Ziyafa izinsizwa, Ayafa amaqhawe, kodwa
ziyasala izibongo!
I thank you.
Issued by The Presidency
14 May 2003
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