Remarks by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele at the commemoration of 40 years since the death of Inkosi Albert Luthuli, KwaDukuza

We are assembled here today to pay tribute to a giant. We are here to commemorate 40 years since the death of Chief Albert Luthuli on 21 July 1967. This morning we went to the site where the purported accident took place. The news of his death, which came quite unexpectedly, shocked the world.

I must point out, though, that it is not for me today to talk at length about this national and international icon. Save to say that Chief Luthuli was an intellectual, a teacher, a church deacon, a lover of choral music, a political leader and an elected traditional leader. It was during his tenure as President-General of the African National Congress (ANC) that the movement became completely non-racial. It was also during his tenure as President-General of the ANC that the profile of women was raised within the movement.

His leadership was well tested and stretched during the Defiance Campaign of 1952. It was also tested and stretched during the introduction of Bantu Education, as well as during the women's march of 1956, the adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1955, the treason trials, the anti-pass marches and the banning of the liberation movement.

Through all of this, Chief Albert Luthuli remained calm and focused. This is but one characteristic that we must draw from Chief Luthuli's legacy as we gather here today, to remain calm and focused.

The government of the province of KwaZulu-Natal has taken a strong interest in the renewal of our provincial heritage to include the commemoration of those heroes who sacrificed much in order to bring liberation to all of us.

Last year, we focused on commemorating the role of Inkosi Bhambatha Zondi in the 1906 Poll Tax uprising. We also commemorated 100 years of Mahatma Ghandi's Satyagraha movement. We brought home the remains of Moses Mabhida who died in exile in Mozambique.

Early this year we commemorated 130 years since the killing of the first Zulu to convert to Christianity, Maqhansela Khanyile. We also commemorated the courage of Izintombi Zengcugce, when they defied instructions to accept arranged marriages in 1876. During August we commemorated the role of one of the most powerful pre-colonial Zulu women, Princess Mkabayi ka Jama.

The research towards formalising the KwaZulu-Natal Family Tree Project is now nearing completion. I am pleased to hear that the University of KwaZulu-Natal has since joined this call and started a special project on genealogy.

Our heritage programme continues to unfold with a number of commemorations lined up for 2008. Among these are the following:

* 180 years after the death in 1828 of Inkosi u Shaka ka Senzangakhona
* 170 years after Inkosi uDingane led the 1838 Impi yase Ncome
* 100 years after Inkosi u Dinuzulu was sentenced in Greytown in 1908
* 40 years after the death of Inkosi Cyprian in 1968, the father of the reigning monarch.

Next year again, through our heritage programme, we will be assisting families and clans to trace and record their family histories. We will also be strengthening the bonds of a family as an important unit in nation-building and moral uprightness.

Chief Albert Luthuli would be happy with these initiatives. He himself held culture and heritage in very high esteem. It is befitting that while on 21 July 2007 we commemorated him through choral music in Durban, today we assemble in his hometown of KwaDukuza to further pay tribute and immortalise his legacy.

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
4 November 2007