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The South African Communist Party expresses its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of Cde Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, the people of Namibia, Southern Africa and the African continent as whole on the death of the freedom fighter and co-founder and leader of the South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo). Cde Toivo died at the age of 93 in Windhoek yesterday, Friday 9 June 2017.

Africa is not independent yet, because of persisting imperialist domination and capitalist exploitation of its resources and people.  The masses of our people remain impoverished across the board, while a few, both national and foreign exploiters are becoming rich and richer out of the exploitation. The SACP is reiterating its call for African continental unity to continue and deepen the struggle to advance the African revolution in honour of the exceptional founders and leaders of our national liberation movements, of who Cde Toivo was one.

Cde Toivo fought against apartheid oppression and was arrested and imprisoned on Robben Island for 16 years in the same section as former President Nelson Mandela for fighting for freedom and national independence. After release from prison in 1984 he continued his activism in exile, Lusaka, Zambia as part of Swapo. He returned to Namibia in 1989 and served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister. He retired from active politics in 2006.

Issued by SACP