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The South African Communist Party (SACP) learnt with profound sadness the untimely death of Comrade Moloko Daniel ‘Dan’ Sematla, the Party’s Limpopo Provincial Organiser, Castro Pilusa District Executive Committee member, African National Congress (ANC) Festus Mothudi Branch Secretary.

The SACP lowers its banner and expresses heartfelt condolences to the Sematla family, community, friends and comrades of Cde Dan Sematla. 

Moloko Daniel ‘Dan’ Sematla, 38, succumbed to an illness on Sunday afternoon, 29 March 2020. He was at his home when he went to sleep, peacefully, but forever.  

Moloko Daniel Sematla was born on 15 September 1982 at Taaibosch village in Blouberg. 

The reliable functionary of the SACP, working class, economic and broader social transformation chronicled his history by becoming involved in the liberation struggle at a tender age, in the 1990s. He became active before he was even eligible for an identity document. His father, Comrade Shoni David Sematla, was the chairperson of the Mandela zone, northern part of the Blouberg Mountains, and became the first mayor of the Alldays Buysdorp Transitional Local Council. Cde Dan’s activism was therefore fostered from home.  He was born in a family dedicated to our liberation struggle.

Some of the regional and local meetings leading up to the re-building of the ANC structures after unbanning in the 1990s were hosted by the Sematla family. This exposed Cde Dan to the programme, theory and practice of the national democratic revolution.

During his schooling, Cde Dan was elected by his fellow learners to serve as the president of the Learners’ Representative Council at Thokampe Secondary School. 

He joined the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and following its re-establishment in the early 2000s the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA). He was entrusted with various responsibilities, including the following.

Branch chairperson of the ANCYL Taaibosch village in the 1990s.

He was illustrious and was later assigned responsibilities to serve in both the ANCYL Blouberg sub-regional executive committee and Peter Mokaba regional executive committee.

SACP Blouberg sub-district secretary, from 2013 to February 2020.

At the time of his death, he was a member of the district executive committee of the SACP in Castro Pilusa District, Provincial Organiser of the SACP in Limpopo Province and ANC Festus Mothudi branch.

In his capacity as the SACP Limpopo Provincial Organiser, Cde Dan constantly interacted with the headquarters of the SACP in Johannesburg on Party Building, key aspects of organisational development and performance areas.

He was involved a path of advancing the revolutionary struggle on all fronts, including the battle of ideas.

Cde Dan would be remembered and missed among others for his fierce debate on state and popular power and eloquent elaboration within the framework of Marxist-Leninist body of engagements in his mother tongue, Sepedi. 

He previously served as the spokesperson of SACP Castro Pilusa district executive committee, representing the Party on a number of platforms in the battle of ideas, media and communications. 

In 2018, the grassroots activist was elected to serve as the branch secretary of the ANC Festus Mothudi branch. He served in this responsibility until he ceased to breathe.

Moloko served his community with distinction.

He was part of the Machete Communal Property Association, which grabbles with, among others, land claims for the rural community of Taaibosch. He was well-received not only in political structures within our movement but also in the broader community, including by the Babirwa ba ga Mamadi. 

Cde Dan was a great believer in the philosophy of Botho, Ubuntu, which resonates with communist ethics. He was astute in translating Marxist-Leninist philosophy into practice under the unique conditions of his village.

During the period 2007–2008, he served as the shop steward of the South African Municipal Workers Union following his appointment by the Office of the Chief Whip, Capricorn District Municipality.

Just in the period preceding his untimely departure, Cde Dan understood and articulated the purpose of the nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). He encouraged co-operation with our health and public safety and security authorities to stop the spread of the deadly disease.

Moloko Daniel Sematla is survived by his father, brother, wife and two children.

His untimely departure caused an immeasurable loss for his family, the SACP and the working class.

Cde Dan’s funeral is arranged to take place on 18 April 2020 at the Mamadi Village, Taaibosch, in the Blouberg Municipality.

SACP says:

Farewell the organiser and radical campaigner of the working class struggles; Tsela Tšhweu Lerumo la Setšaba.

Issued by SACP