Date: 10/06/2006
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mlambo-Ngcuka: Funeral of Eric Molobi
Speech by the Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on occasion of the funeral of Eric Molobi
Programme Director
Master of ceremonies
Martha Molobi, Lele and Tiisetso
The Molobi family
Ladies and gentlemen
On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Molobi family in particular, his colleagues at Kagiso Trust and Kagiso Trust Investments, at the untimely passing of one of the finest sons of our beloved country. The loss and despair we all feel is beyond words. Even those words we can muster will forever remain inadequate when we try to match them against the life of this illustrious friend, father and comrade.
Indeed, over the past few days many of you have given and heard testimony on the life he led, the love he gave the foundations he built and the rich legacy he leaves behind.
In his youth, he responded, like his great friend Onkgopotse Tiro, to the call of the liberation movement to fight for the freedom of all South Africans. As his journey took him though the well-trodden path to Robben Island, his resolve to continue the good fight never diminished. No surprise then that when he was eventually released from Robben Island he was not content just to sit back in the face of the relentless repression of the Apartheid regime.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) was to give Eric yet another avenue through which he would continue to give of himself to the cause of freedom for his people. It was through Eric’s deep commitment to bring about a fundamental change to the education system in our country that our paths met. I got the opportunity and privilege to get to know him.
In 1986 the National Education Crisis Committee (NECC) was formed as a direct reaction to the banning of Congress of South African Students (Cosas), and the collapse of the national education system particularly in black schools. Eric together with comrades such as, Valli Moosa, Brother Jude, Curtis Nkondo, Sheila Sisulu, Angie Motsege and others stood up for education with liberation.
Testimony to the man’s insights and farsightedness about the importance of education as a tool for liberation is contained in a paper Education as a Liberation Force that was presented at the Children of Resistance conference in Harare. In that paper Eric observed that education has been a focal point of black resistance, particularly amongst the children themselves. In his usual style of being ever the reconciler and bridge builder, Eric observed that the white child was just as disenfranchised as the black child in being robbed of a quality education. He said:
“The bad effects of apartheid education do not affect only the black child. White education for white children is equally bad. These children, coming from socially privileged but acutely secluded lives, are taken through a system which not only distorts their conceptions of the black school child's world, but also through calculated omissions, also deprives them of the fuller understanding of their country. The white child grows up with negative stereotypes which are strengthened by the regime’s policies. In the media, he or she internalises lies, distortions, political propaganda aimed at protecting racial superiority. The worst and unfortunate thing for that child is the day he is called up to don the South African Defence Force (SADF) uniform, when he has to take up arms against other children in the townships. Here he is thrown into a mental make-up of the so-called national security. He realises that, in order to protect the white nation, he must protect his own skin in the face of thousands of angry black children. He resorts to the gun, to the destruction of lives, he becomes a schizophrenic because he can't cope with the double life he is called upon to live: the glossy life of his parents and white communities, the life of success, of big business, of quiet suburbia and green luxurious gardens, against that of black bleeding bodies that die in township debris.”
This message still has the same resonance today. We are still challenged to continue relentlessly to entrench a people cantered education and political system that meets the requirements of a developmental state.
Today, Kagiso Trust (KT) and Kagiso Trust Investments remain a fitting tribute to his philosophy of life and commitment to the development and advancement of the poorest of the poor in our country.
The principle of education as a liberation force lived on with Eric since his National Education Co-ordinating Conference (NECC) days, and with his leadership Kagiso Trust has provided over thirty thousand (30 000) bursaries towards the education of the underprivileged. The Trust has disbursed over 1.2 Billion Rand to South Africans, 70% specifically to young people in rural communities. Many are professionals today and they are serving the nation in different ways.
I had the privilege of working with him as a founder member of Education Development Trust another education organisation which benefited yet immensely from Eric’s love for development of our people. I remember how Eric ensured we developed a plan that enabled the Education Development Trust (EDT) students to do some community work before they graduated.
KT contributed to research projects looking into education programs which informed the education policies of the African National Congress and our democratic South Africa. He was one of the Education activists that supported National Education Policy Investigation which gave us the guiding principles on education for the Post Apartheid South Africa.
Today KT directly touches over twenty thousand (20 000) lives due to employment directly within the group, which if you do the maths could translate to at about 60 000 lives if we are to include the families of the employees. His involvement in other organisations as a board member ensured that his principles live on and touch a wide space within business in South Africa. I think we can associate Eric with the KT brand. He actually nurtured and guided since 1990 till his untimely death. From a charity organisation to a JSE listed company. Brilliant! Ladies and gentlemen, a unique path for the organisation!
A few months ago I had the opportunity to talk to him and congratulate him and Kagiso Trust for the contribution they are making to our nation. I told him that I wished we could clone the Kagiso Based Black Economic Empowerment model because it is indeed one of the most successful models. This is another lesson and legacy he has left us, I want to urge young people to learn from this great man to emulate the principles by which Eric lived, and selflessly contribute to the liberation from South Africa’s big enemy: poverty. In this June 2006, when we celebrate 30 years of youth heroism, our young people must take a leaf from Eric’s life who like one the other young people of the 1970s, gave his youth to the nation even as they faced death or jail. The question today is, how can the young people of today write their own history, so that Eric’s life is given even a greater meaning?
Friends and Comrades, everybody who knew Eric praises his great qualities of sound principles in all aspects of life be it business, political or personal. Eric was humble and unassuming. The ugly head of corruption continually rears its head in our society and Government. On this important national issue, Eric once again provided leadership.
He insisted that any Kagiso employee who was found to be involved in any corrupt activity be dismissed immediately, and, he would rather see Kagiso disinvest from a company if there was anything questionable. It is no surprise that Kagiso today is associated with solid ethics and integrity. Long before we had sophisticated knowledge on how corporate governance works in the private sector, Eric had practiced good corporate governance in the non-government organisation (NGO) sector through upholding high ethics. He institutionalised good values in the organisation he served.
He wanted Kagiso to stand out as a remarkable achievement of the black empowerment project. He developed it from a being a donor-funded socio political organisation to a self-reliant developmental listed corporate entity. Today it is one of the NGOs that survived and adapted fully into the New South Africa.
Eric was a bridge builder, he stood firm and held to principled position without resorting to a shouting matches. He knew the importance of bridge building, the meaning of a unifying stand that is principled. He knew that life was not about shades of black or white but shades of grey where more could be accommodated and unity built. Even his calm tentative smile captured that gift of an open minded and holistic person.
HE was a development activist of note, educator, and visionary who also became a giant in business. If you want to see the cadre that the peoples struggle sought to create in the process of struggle, look no further. He lived the transformation agenda to the end. Martha, Lele and Tiisetso: Yours was a great husband and father. When he set about to build the Kagiso Group, his vision was clear he wanted to build an enduring institution not a quick empowerment proposition.
As those who now take over and move forward with Eric’s vision, the enduring Kagiso institution will be a living memorial for all that he stood for and achieved. And when the history of our nascent democracy is written, Eric’s role will be cemented in history. Today, South Africa cries with you and salutes a great man.
Take comfort from the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Issued by: The Presidency
10 June 2006
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mlambo-Ngcuka: Funeral of Eric Molobi
Speech by the Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on occasion of the funeral of Eric Molobi
Programme Director
Master of ceremonies
Martha Molobi, Lele and Tiisetso
The Molobi family
Ladies and gentlemen
On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Molobi family in particular, his colleagues at Kagiso Trust and Kagiso Trust Investments, at the untimely passing of one of the finest sons of our beloved country. The loss and despair we all feel is beyond words. Even those words we can muster will forever remain inadequate when we try to match them against the life of this illustrious friend, father and comrade.
Indeed, over the past few days many of you have given and heard testimony on the life he led, the love he gave the foundations he built and the rich legacy he leaves behind.
In his youth, he responded, like his great friend Onkgopotse Tiro, to the call of the liberation movement to fight for the freedom of all South Africans. As his journey took him though the well-trodden path to Robben Island, his resolve to continue the good fight never diminished. No surprise then that when he was eventually released from Robben Island he was not content just to sit back in the face of the relentless repression of the Apartheid regime.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) was to give Eric yet another avenue through which he would continue to give of himself to the cause of freedom for his people. It was through Eric’s deep commitment to bring about a fundamental change to the education system in our country that our paths met. I got the opportunity and privilege to get to know him.
In 1986 the National Education Crisis Committee (NECC) was formed as a direct reaction to the banning of Congress of South African Students (Cosas), and the collapse of the national education system particularly in black schools. Eric together with comrades such as, Valli Moosa, Brother Jude, Curtis Nkondo, Sheila Sisulu, Angie Motsege and others stood up for education with liberation.
Testimony to the man’s insights and farsightedness about the importance of education as a tool for liberation is contained in a paper Education as a Liberation Force that was presented at the Children of Resistance conference in Harare. In that paper Eric observed that education has been a focal point of black resistance, particularly amongst the children themselves. In his usual style of being ever the reconciler and bridge builder, Eric observed that the white child was just as disenfranchised as the black child in being robbed of a quality education. He said:
“The bad effects of apartheid education do not affect only the black child. White education for white children is equally bad. These children, coming from socially privileged but acutely secluded lives, are taken through a system which not only distorts their conceptions of the black school child's world, but also through calculated omissions, also deprives them of the fuller understanding of their country. The white child grows up with negative stereotypes which are strengthened by the regime’s policies. In the media, he or she internalises lies, distortions, political propaganda aimed at protecting racial superiority. The worst and unfortunate thing for that child is the day he is called up to don the South African Defence Force (SADF) uniform, when he has to take up arms against other children in the townships. Here he is thrown into a mental make-up of the so-called national security. He realises that, in order to protect the white nation, he must protect his own skin in the face of thousands of angry black children. He resorts to the gun, to the destruction of lives, he becomes a schizophrenic because he can't cope with the double life he is called upon to live: the glossy life of his parents and white communities, the life of success, of big business, of quiet suburbia and green luxurious gardens, against that of black bleeding bodies that die in township debris.”
This message still has the same resonance today. We are still challenged to continue relentlessly to entrench a people cantered education and political system that meets the requirements of a developmental state.
Today, Kagiso Trust (KT) and Kagiso Trust Investments remain a fitting tribute to his philosophy of life and commitment to the development and advancement of the poorest of the poor in our country.
The principle of education as a liberation force lived on with Eric since his National Education Co-ordinating Conference (NECC) days, and with his leadership Kagiso Trust has provided over thirty thousand (30 000) bursaries towards the education of the underprivileged. The Trust has disbursed over 1.2 Billion Rand to South Africans, 70% specifically to young people in rural communities. Many are professionals today and they are serving the nation in different ways.
I had the privilege of working with him as a founder member of Education Development Trust another education organisation which benefited yet immensely from Eric’s love for development of our people. I remember how Eric ensured we developed a plan that enabled the Education Development Trust (EDT) students to do some community work before they graduated.
KT contributed to research projects looking into education programs which informed the education policies of the African National Congress and our democratic South Africa. He was one of the Education activists that supported National Education Policy Investigation which gave us the guiding principles on education for the Post Apartheid South Africa.
Today KT directly touches over twenty thousand (20 000) lives due to employment directly within the group, which if you do the maths could translate to at about 60 000 lives if we are to include the families of the employees. His involvement in other organisations as a board member ensured that his principles live on and touch a wide space within business in South Africa. I think we can associate Eric with the KT brand. He actually nurtured and guided since 1990 till his untimely death. From a charity organisation to a JSE listed company. Brilliant! Ladies and gentlemen, a unique path for the organisation!
A few months ago I had the opportunity to talk to him and congratulate him and Kagiso Trust for the contribution they are making to our nation. I told him that I wished we could clone the Kagiso Based Black Economic Empowerment model because it is indeed one of the most successful models. This is another lesson and legacy he has left us, I want to urge young people to learn from this great man to emulate the principles by which Eric lived, and selflessly contribute to the liberation from South Africa’s big enemy: poverty. In this June 2006, when we celebrate 30 years of youth heroism, our young people must take a leaf from Eric’s life who like one the other young people of the 1970s, gave his youth to the nation even as they faced death or jail. The question today is, how can the young people of today write their own history, so that Eric’s life is given even a greater meaning?
Friends and Comrades, everybody who knew Eric praises his great qualities of sound principles in all aspects of life be it business, political or personal. Eric was humble and unassuming. The ugly head of corruption continually rears its head in our society and Government. On this important national issue, Eric once again provided leadership.
He insisted that any Kagiso employee who was found to be involved in any corrupt activity be dismissed immediately, and, he would rather see Kagiso disinvest from a company if there was anything questionable. It is no surprise that Kagiso today is associated with solid ethics and integrity. Long before we had sophisticated knowledge on how corporate governance works in the private sector, Eric had practiced good corporate governance in the non-government organisation (NGO) sector through upholding high ethics. He institutionalised good values in the organisation he served.
He wanted Kagiso to stand out as a remarkable achievement of the black empowerment project. He developed it from a being a donor-funded socio political organisation to a self-reliant developmental listed corporate entity. Today it is one of the NGOs that survived and adapted fully into the New South Africa.
Eric was a bridge builder, he stood firm and held to principled position without resorting to a shouting matches. He knew the importance of bridge building, the meaning of a unifying stand that is principled. He knew that life was not about shades of black or white but shades of grey where more could be accommodated and unity built. Even his calm tentative smile captured that gift of an open minded and holistic person.
HE was a development activist of note, educator, and visionary who also became a giant in business. If you want to see the cadre that the peoples struggle sought to create in the process of struggle, look no further. He lived the transformation agenda to the end. Martha, Lele and Tiisetso: Yours was a great husband and father. When he set about to build the Kagiso Group, his vision was clear he wanted to build an enduring institution not a quick empowerment proposition.
As those who now take over and move forward with Eric’s vision, the enduring Kagiso institution will be a living memorial for all that he stood for and achieved. And when the history of our nascent democracy is written, Eric’s role will be cemented in history. Today, South Africa cries with you and salutes a great man.
Take comfort from the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Issued by: The Presidency
10 June 2006
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