"Tribute to outstanding religious leader and a true patriot"

Tuesday, 19 August 2014

The South African Communist Party (SACP) joins the millions of South Africans and peace loving people across the globe in mourning the passing of Bishop David Russell.

We remember him as one of outstanding religious leaders who took the side of the poor and weak at all times. It is in the Eastern Cape where he led from the front in the struggles against forced removals and illegal evictions in the farms. He worked fearlessly with the people of Dimbaza who were victims of forced removals in Thornhill and dumped in Dimbaza and suffered injustice under the repression of both the South African and Ciskei "governments".

We remember Bishop David Russell as one of the many white South Africans who were actively part of the struggle for freedom, equal rights and justice, who set aside the privileges of being white under the colonial and apartheid era and fought against the system that created the very privileges. He led many marches and protests against the unjust apartheid; he refused to take permit from the apartheid police and said "he has permit from God". This was part of defying the apartheid system and rendering it unworkable as it was a crime against humanity.

Bishop David Russell will always be remembered for his striking bravery, when he at times laid down in front of the bulldozer to stop demolition of houses during forced removals. He might not have been rewarded with the Nobel Peace Prize but was deeply a man of peace and true justice for the poor and marginalised.

We dip our red banner in paying respect to this remarkable South African and a true patriot. We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to his family, the religious fraternity, people he struggled with and for, all South Africans.

The SACP says Rest in Peace Bishop David Russell.

Statement issued by the SACP Central Committee, August 19 2014

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