The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal said it had lost one of its stalwarts, Comrade Justice Maqina Mpanza, best known as Gizenga, who died on Tuesday after two days of illness.
Mpanza (65) of Groutville at KwaDukuza on the north coast, had been a iLembe District Councillor.
He joined the ANC in 1952 during the defiance campaign. He was in the first group to be trained as Umkhonto weSizwe combatants and was trained in Russia.
Gizenga served in the Wankie Military Campaign as part of the Luthuli Detachment. He fought alongside with James April, Cletus Mzimela, Joseph Nduli, Chris Hani, Basil February and many other freedom fighters.
He was arrested in 1972 and sentenced to 15 years at Robben Island where he joined Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada and others already incarcerated there.
After completing his prison term, he came back in June 1988 and continued with ANC activities under the banner of the United Democratic Front.
Two weeks ago he took part in the opening of the ANC Regional Office at KwaDukuza (Stanger).
Mpanza is survived by his wife Regina Thandiwe MaNdlovu, two sons, Bhabha and Sthembiso, and five grandchildren. – Sapa