Tributes to the late anti-apartheid activist Walter Sisulu continued to pour in as government agrees to President Thabo Mbeki’s request for a state funeral.
Mbeki’s representative Bheki Khumalo said that in view of the enormous contribution Sisulu had made to the building of a non-racial and democratic South African state, it was appropriate he have an official funeral.
”The president indicated that a positive response by the Cabinet will allow for the national flag to be flown at half-mast in the country and in our missions abroad,” Khumalo said.
Cabinet has agreed that Sisulu would be accorded a Special Official Funeral on May 17 2003.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw paid tribute to Sisulu, calling him a founder of modern South Africa.
”I know the House will join me in mourning the death last night of Walter Sisulu, one of the founders of the African National Congress (ANC) and of modern South Africa,” Straw told lawmakers gathered in the House of Commons.
”We share with all the people of South Africa their grief at this loss,” Straw said.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday eulogised Sisulu as a champion of democracy and an ”elder statesman” for racial equality.
”The United States joins the people and government of South Africa in mourning the passing of Walter Sisulu,” Powell said in a statement.
”South Africa has lost a giant, but one whose goals for an inclusive, multiracial, multicultural nation was realised with the end of apartheid rule in 1994,” Powell added.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said that Sisulu was ”a close friend and mentor of Nelson Mandela,” the former South African president, and, like Mandela, ”he was engaged in the struggle for multi-racial democracy for all his adult life”.
Imprisoned for more than 25 years by the white minority government, ”he was known and loved by people far beyond South Africa’s borders for his humility, integrity, intellect and vision,” said Annan in a statement.
Annan expressed his condolences to Sisulu’s wife and lifelong partner in the struggle against apartheid, Albertina, as well as to the government and the people of South Africa.
In addition to the global tributes, come condolences and reminisces from associates of the former struggle activist, as well as messages from neighbouring states.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday sent a message of condolence to Mbeki, saying he was ”saddened by Sisulu’s death, which is not only a great loss to South Africa, but to the entire African continent”.
Former comrades-in-arms, the uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKVA) fondly described Sisulu as a man for all seasons, and an architect and founding member of the ANC’s military wing.
”MKMVA dips its revolutionary banner on the passing away of one of its leading members.”
Although not highly educated, Sisulu was respected for his profound analytical thinking, building the ANC during the tough and difficult years of apartheid, the association said.
It added: ”He sacrificed most of his adult life including spending time with his wife and children to fight for the rights of black people. We are now free, thanks to the man of steel, Walter Sisulu. Hamba Kahle Xhamela. Lala ngoxolo Qhawe La Maqhawe (Go well Xhamela. Rest in peace Hero among Heroes).”
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it joined millions across the world in saluting this gallant African patriot.
”We send our condolences to the Sisulu family, particularly Comrade Albertina, in their moment of grief. Your loss is a loss for the entire democratic movement. We also pledge our solidarity with the entire leadership and members of the ANC.
”While there must be memorials and monuments befitting the gigantic stature of Walter Sisulu, the greatest memorial we can build is to continue the struggle which he led.”
The union federation, which is also an ANC affiliate, said Sisulu occupied a special place in the history of the liberation movement and the hearts of millions of South Africans and peace loving people across the world. Cosatu conferred a special award on Sisulu — and other Rivonia Trialists — to recognise his profound role in the liberation struggle at its last Congress in 2000.
Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu added his condolences, saying that Sisulu’s death meant ”an outstanding stalwart of our struggle has fallen”.
Tutu said Sisulu was ”one of the greatest sons of our soil who mentored Nelson Mandela and did not mind playing second fiddle. He was not interested in personal kudos.
”We are where we are today because of this great man whose name will forever be blazoned in letters of gold in the annals of our beloved land and mother continent.”
He offered his deepest condolences to Sisulu’s wife, and family.
Opposition party leaders also voiced sympathy and solidarity: Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said: ”I wish to pay a sincere tribute to the life of Walter Sisulu, and to mourn his passing.”
”The death of Walter Sisulu marks the passing of one of South Africa’s great heroes. He will long be remembered as one of the founding fathers of a non-racial, democratic South Africa.”
New National Party leader and Western Cape Premier Marthinus van Schalkwyk said: ”South African has lost a formidable leader who strived his whole life to bring about a democratic and just dispensation.”
Sisulu would always be known ”and remembered as one of the great sons of our land”, said Van Schalkwyk.
”He succeeded in combining intellect with a common touch.”
Sisulu died on Monday, two weeks before his 91st birthday, after collapsing in the arms of his wife at their Johannesburg home after returning from a medical check-up.
Former state president Nelson Mandela again paid tribute on Tuesday to his long-time comrade-in-arms ”and peace”, when he cut the ribbon to open the new offices of the foundation that bears his name.
Mandela officiated at the inauguration of the state-of-the-art building in Houghton, Johannesburg, to be known as Nelson Mandela House.
The R15-million complex will be the headquarters of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and will have two main functions — to support Mandela technically as well as logistically and to organise his hundreds of meetings and many trips abroad.
While Mandela praised the work of the foundation, he again noted the passing of his old and dear friend Sisulu.
”This day an entire nation mourns the passing of a great son.
”None of us can match the leadership and humanity of this man. Tonight, this building is named after one of us. Walter deserved this acclaim more than all of us put together.”
Mandela fondly reminisced about his former mentor: ”He was from the Transkei, but spoke English with a rapid urban fluency. In those days I believed that proficiency in English and success in business were the direct result of high academic achievements and I assumed as a matter of course that Sisulu was a university graduate. I was greatly surprised to learn … that Walter Sisulu had never gone beyond Standard VI … In Johannesburg I found that many of the most outstanding leaders had never been to university at all.”
Mandela was one of the first on Monday to publicly mourn Sisulu’s passing, saying in a statement that his death ”carved a void” in his life. ‒ Sapa, Sapa-AFP, I-Net Bridge