TRIBUTE BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS CDE ELIAS SEKGOBELO MAGSHULE TO THE LIVING MEMORIES OF THE LATE CDE ZINDZI MANDELA.

Friday, 17 July 2020

There are times that brings you to a recollection and re-assessment of all that brought you to this point in one's life. Such a moment came for us on Monday moming the 13th of July, when we woke up to the sad news that our dearest comrade, Zindziswa (Zindzi) Mandela, had passed on. This is truly a time for honest introspection, contemplation, and rededication on to our liberation struggle.

We deliver this tribute in the context of the huge challenges that we as the African National Congress, and indeed our whole nation, are faced with in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mandela family announced that comrade Zindzi had tested positive for COVID-19. They did so intentionally in order to heighten awareness of the deadly serious nature of COVID-19 infections, and also to de-stigmatize any infections. We are deeply grateful for the dedicated comradeship and leadership that the Mandela family continues to show to all of us.

Comrade Zindzi is one of several of our leaders, and comrades, in the ANC whom we have lost to the pandemic. In remembering the life of comrade Zindzi and her huge contribution to our liberation struggle, it is very important that we must also commemorate the lives and contributions of all our comrades who have succumbed to the COVID-19 virus.

Like her Father and Mother, comrade Zindzi always insisted that she was part of the ANC collective. Thus it is correct that we today launch a virtual memorial platform to commemorate all our ANC comrades, as well as distinguished leaders in all walks of life of our South African society, and indeed every single South African who lost their lives during this very difficult time in our country. Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of each and every one of them.

In doing so we also commit ourselves to honor their lives and memories by intensifying our efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and to do everything possible to save lives. We once again call on all our South African compatriots to diligently observe the lockdown regulations, and to fully cooperate with the government, and law enforcement agencies, to keep the curve of infections as low as possible.

More than anything else the COVID-19 pandemic calls for unity of action and solidarity - especially in reaching out to the poor in our nation and throughout the world who are the hardest hit by this cruel disease. Mandela Day - with its crucial message of unity, solidarity and internationalism - speaks with singular clarity to the world-wide challenge that we are all faced with. On Mandela Day tomorrow we make a clarion call to all of those - in our country and throughout the world - to assist with all the resources at their disposal to assist the less privileged and poor who are the hardest hit, and are suffering most. In the words of uTata Madiba we say: "It is in your hands", to reach out with magnanimity and humanity. We know that is what Madiba would have expected of you.

In specifically paying tribute to comrade Zindzi, memories flood back of having met her as a young woman, together with her Mom, comrade Winnie Madikizela Mandela, came flooding in. Her vibrancy, and love for life, defined by her larger than life character as a young woman. Her infectious laughter, her playful, but also sharp tongue. The twinkle in her eyes, that in a moment turned into a spark that could lit a raging fire of anger and outrage, against any injustice that she was confronted with.

The very same flames of raging anger against the oppression and injustices of apartheid that we had so often seen in the eyes of comrade Winnie. More than anything comrade Zindzi was her Mother's daughter. Strong and unwavering in their commitment to the struggle for the freedom of our people, and in the very best of ways stubborn and single minded in their pursuit of justice.

Comrade Zindzi was fiercely protective of comrade Winnie. Nothing touched her more than, and brought the raging lioness that was always just under the surface present in her, quicker to the fore than when her beloved Mother was attacked, abused, and treated unfairly.

From her earliest childhood, when she was still a little toddler, and could hardly walk and talk, comrade Zindzi had experienced apartheid security police men coming into their home, assaulting her Mom, arresting and handcuffing her, and taking her away in the back of police truck, leaving her and her older sister behind Zenani alone behind in their home in Vilikazi Street in Orlando West, not knowing who would take care of them.

We remember how as a young student activist, with a rucksack on our back, we went to visit comrade Winnie in Soweto. How we literally sat at her feet, and got taught so much about our struggle from her. Comrade Zindzi was always around amplifying what her Mom was saying. Sharing with us as young student activists our revolutionary commitment. She was a young revolutionary in her own right, with her own strongly held views.

Yes, comrade Zindzi was her Mother's daughter in looks, in fiery spirit, and unwavering commitment, but she never stood in the shadow of comrade Winnie - she was always her own person. That is how comrade Winnie brought her daughters up, to be strong and independent.

All of these memories, and many more, came flooding through our mind. Some like raging waves breaking on the shores of our pain - scattered with the broken rocks of so many revolutionary sacrificed lives - that we have lost such a committed comrade far too early in her life. Other memories are like soothing rivers of clear quiet flowing water, nurturing the deep roots of the huge tree with its thick trunk and wide spreading branches of our revolutionary Liberation Movement and struggle - like a centuries old baobab tree standing strong, and silhouetted, in our sweeping South African landscape.

We remember the incredible strength of comrade Zindzi, when - her young voice trembling with indignation - she read the statement of her Father, President Nelson Mandela, rejecting the treacherous offer of PW Botha to denounce the armed struggle in return for his freedom: "Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts ... My father says, I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I and you the people are not free". When she had finished reading the letter, she defiantly punched the air with her clenched fist, and shouted "Amandla!".

That image is ingrained in our minds, and the minds of millions of South Africans. It had become part of the revolutionary history, and psyche, of our nation. In the midst of the hardest, and most difficult, years of our liberation struggle all of us found solace and strength in the incredible strength of comrade Zindzi.

However, none of that extraordinary strength must ever make us to forget the pain, and deep wounds, that the apartheid regime inflicted so cruelly and sadistically on Cde Winnie Mandela and her daughters. Throughout comrades Zindzi and Zenani's childhood and young lives, they had to deal with the enforced absence of their father, who was for 26 years incarcerated by the apartheid regime.

As vulnerable young girl-children they often had to fend for themselves, with comrade Winnie being for long periods detained in solitary confinement, or banished. They were never able to have a normal childhood, and the most basic dignity, respect and humanity of a normal family life. The deprivation, pain, and humiliation that were inflicted on them - and which they took for all our sakes - were, and remain, unsurpassed and left deep wounds and scars.

We recall the terrible humiliating isolation Comrade Winnie suffered when she was banished to Brandford in the Free State. We often visited comrade Winnie there, and while we were always encouraged by her unwavering commitment and formidable strength in the face of so much adversity, we also often left with our hearts heavy and crying for her pain, and cruelity subjected to her by the racist Apartheid regime.

We recall how the evil security police threatened the people of Branford and tried to scare them from having any contact with comrade Winnie. It was only through comrade Winnie's humanity and the love for all her people, and how she reached out to that community, that she won them over.

The bonds of mutual love and care that were forged between comrade Winnie and her two beloved daughters, in the midst of all these painful challenges of our struggle, are truly legendary, and stand as a towering triumph of the human spirit over adversity and evil. That salient example of love also talks to us today, in the midst the current crises that we are faced with - made worse by the coronavirus pandemic - to nurture our families, and to take care of our children.

They suffered for us, were tortured and separated, so that now we as families in our liberated country can be together. The love of Nelson Mandela for his children reaching out in his prison letters to them from behind the high walls of Robben Island, and the love of the mother to her two daughters, are all great gifts and legacy examples that they have shared with us, and for which all of us should be hugely grateful, and must always try to emulate.

This tribute to comrade Zindzi will not be complete without us recognizing her courage and long years of dedicated work in the underground work of the African National Congress, and specifically Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). Like her Mother, comrade Zindzi, was a member of MK. Comrade Winnie commanded many of us. Comrade Zindzi was many a time part of the military operations of MK. We have the fondest of memories of having worked together with our dear sister in the same underground unit.

One of the closest person who was at the heart of both Cdes Winnie and Zindzi was the late General Secretary of the South African Communist Party and the Chief of Staff of our glorious liberation army Umkhonto we Sizwe Cde Chris Hani. The relationship born out of their common commitment to the cause of the struggle for the liberation of our people.

This is what has defined their comradeship, bravery and commitment to volunteer their own lives for the sake of the freedom of our people. It is for this very same reason that Comrade Zindzi must be recognized and honored as one of our very own in MK, a true fellow liberation soldier.

In acknowledging that comrade Zindzi's whole life was defined, and dedicated to the liberation struggle, we must also acknowledge that there were times when there were those among us who did not behave in a comradely manner towards our very own comrades. Some comrades were too quick to believe the terrible lies that were spread about comrade Winnie, and her two beloved daughters.

More than any one else comrade Zindzi stood tall and defended her beloved Mother against these onslaughts. She was truly a bulwark of deep daughterly love and unwavering commitment. Comrade Zindzi often, and in no uncertain terms, shared her anger and pain with us about the injustices that had been inflicted on her family, and especially on her Mother.

With the passing of comrade Zindzi it is important that we acknowledge the mistakes had been committed against her Mother and the family. This is a time for us to be remorseful, and to show contrition. With this sad passing of our dearest comrade Zindzi, it is for us - as the Secretary General of the ANC - to say formally, that we are truly sorry for the hurt and pain that had been caused.

We acknowledge that, despite everything, comrade Zindzi remained a loyal, and dedicated, member of the African National Congress, who throughout the 59 years of her life never wavered in her commitment to the full liberation of the people of South Africa. In recent months she again gave expression to that commitment when she reminded us that we in the African National Congress have a solemn duty to return the land to our people. At times her strong committed radical voice was strident, and caused some among us discomfort, but we must indeed be deeply grateful that she kept on reminding us of our true duty as a Liberation Movement.

For the example of comrade Zindzi's life we, as the ANC, can never be grateful enough. Right up to end, also as our Ambassador at various Foreign Missions, the last one having been Denmark, she continued to serve our country with selfless dedication.

On behalf of the African National Congress we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones. We thank all of them for having so graciously and selflessly shared her great revolutionary soul with our nation.

Comrade Zindzi's spear has fallen, as we collectively kneel down to pick it up, we rededicate ourselves to continue with the struggle until the full liberation of all our people is truly achieved.

HAMBA KAHLE OUR DEAREST COMRADE

MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE

Issued by the ANC, 17 July 2020