Condolences on the death of Transport Minister Dullah Omar — who died in a Cape Town hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning — poured in from well wishers.
Omar had been receiving treatment for Hodgkins-Classic, a form of cancer of the lymph nodes, diagnosed last January, and was rushed to hospital on Tuesday with respiratory problems.
Omar will be given an official funeral with ”all the honours due to a serving member of cabinet” government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said.
He said flags would be flown at half-mast from Saturday morning until the last official memorial service had been held.
Netshitenzhe said President Thabo Mbeki and other dignitaries would attend Omar’s funeral in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. He said Omar had served South Africa’s people with distinction.
”Since his youth Dullah dedicated his life to the struggle to free South Africa from the scourge of apartheid. As an attorney and advocate of the Supreme Court, he dedicated his energy and skills to the service of the deprived communities as well as in political trials and assistance to prisoners on Robben Island and other prisons.”
He said Omar became Minister of Transport in 1999 and had several time served as acting president in the absence of the president.
Netshitenzhe said: ”The government wishes to extend its profound condolences, and the condolences of all South Africans, to Dullah’s wife and children. Our thoughts are with them in this hour of grief.”
Former president Nelson Mandela said Omar was not only a brilliant lawyer but a pillar of strength for the families of freedom fighters jailed during the apartheid years.
”Dullah was not just an exceptional lawyer. He and his wife, Farieda, became a pillar of strength to all our families during our incarceration, assisting us in various ways and keeping us together,” he said in a statement.
Omar died early on Saturday after being diagnosed with Hodgkins disease 15 months ago. He had been in hospital since Tuesday after suffering from respiratory problems.
Mandela said he visited Omar in hospital and explained to his family if the time came to say goodbye to Omar, they could take comfort in the fact that the transport minister and former justice minister had served his country well.
”We trust that they shall take some solace from the sure knowledge that he is mourned by so many from all walks of life, backgrounds and political persuasions,” he said.
Mandela said he came to know Omar while he was imprisoned on Robben Island when Omar used to visit prisoners as a lawyer.
”He was not a member of the African National Congress at the time, but that made no difference to his commitment and his caring for us.
”Dullah was a lawyer for the people, a human rights lawyer in the truest meaning of the word,” he said.
Omar became the first justice minister of the democratic South Africa –a position which he held with distinction, earning the respect of all, Mandela said.
It was under Omar’s custodianship that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission came about and he transformed the justice system, fundamentally making it ”people friendly”.
”Dullah Omar has distinguished himself over many years as a true leader, progressive in thinking, realising the importance of education, justice and a free society. A humbler, more committed, more decent person you could not wish to find.
”Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time of bereavement,” Mandela said. ”Hamba Kahle (Go well) Dullah!”
The African National Congress said it was profoundly saddened by Omar’s death, adding he was a remarkable leader and a hero of the nation.
”Omar will be remembered for his modest demeanour, his intellect, compassion and unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom in this country,” ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said.
He said Omar, a widely loved and respected member of the ANC’s executive committee since 1991, had fought tirelessly for justice in an unjust system.
Ngonyama said: ”He played a central role in the evolution of the country’s Constitution, and as South Africa’s first democratically-elected minister of justice, Omar was responsible for overseeing the transformation of the country’s judiciary.”
”We extend heartfelt sympathies to Dullah’s wife, Farida, and their children. The thoughts and prayers of the nation are with them at this difficult time,” said Ngonyama.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) called Omar a hero of South Africa’s liberation struggle and a good friend to the workers.
”Comrade Dullah Omar dedicated his whole life to our struggle for liberation and democracy, as an activist, a lawyer and a minister,” Cosatu said in a statement.
As a lawyer, he represented many trade unions and defended many activists, including prisoners on Robben Island.
Cosatu’s spokesperson, Patrick Craven said as justice minister Omar had played a key part in reconstructing South Africa’s society, helping to create the Constitution and laws which were a ”shining” example to the world in how to protect human rights.
He said that while Omar was the transport minister he never forgot that transport was first and foremost a public service, and not a means to make money.
”Cosatu, workers, and the people of South Africa have lost a courageous and dedicated fighter, who was determined to overcome all obstacles in the path of our struggle for freedom and democracy,” Craven said.
”He will be greatly missed. Hamba Kahle, comrade Dullah Omar!”
The national Transport Department said most people would want to remember Omar when he was healthy, but it had chosen to remember him when he was sick.
”They would want to remember him at his strongest, when he could work those long hours and never seem to tire.
”We, the department, want to remember him as he was when he was sick. During this time, out of all his glorious achievements, he showed us who he really was,” it said in a statement.
The department listed examples such as when Omar, although he was ill, insisting on being driven 170km to a community in a rural area so that he could hear the problems of ordinary people, or when he got ”upset” because the department tried to shield him from excessive activities.
”We will remember the short speeches we wrote to ensure that he did not stand in the sun on a dusty, rural road for too long, how he ignored them and spoke from the heart to his people.
”We will remember conspiring with Anuty Farieda (Omar’s wife) to reduce his burden, how he undermined our efforts to make his working life easier,” it said.
Public servants at the department would not despair at his passing, but take courage from it.
”Rest in peace comrade Dullah, your work is done. Watch us as we take up the task you have left us with,” the department concluded.
The SA Communist Party secretary-general Blade Nzimande said he and his party was saddened by the death of Omar.
He said South Africa had lost a great fighter and a believer in the people and human rights.
”From the days of apartheid he distinguished himself as a committed patriot when many lawyers failed to come out to stand against apartheid and its judiciary system,” he said.
Nzimande said Omar played an important role as the first justice minister in the democratic South Africa.
”We salute him for rising to that role of putting right the wrongs of apartheid and ensuring people had access to justice he himself was denied,” he said.
”We send our love, warmth and condolences to Farida, his wife, and the rest of his family.”
The Democratic Alliance hailed Omar as a great fighter for justice, both against the injustices of the apartheid government and for real justice under the new democratic dispensation.
DA national chairperson Joe Seremane said: ”In his passing, we join South Africa in celebrating the contribution Omar made to our country, both in the fight against apartheid and in the consolidation of democracy.”
Seremane said Omar would be remembered as minister of justice for his significant contribution to the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the reconstruction of the country’s justice system.
”He was a great fighter for justice — both against the injustices of the apartheid government, and for real justice under the new democratic dispensation.”
He said Omar would be remembered for beginning a number of positive strategies aimed at reducing road deaths and improving the transport system.
”Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time. We hope that they can find comfort in the legacy that Omar leaves behind.”
United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utata) secretary general Chris de Vos said his union saluted Omar and praised him for his understanding on the unsafe working environment within the rail sector.
”Minister Omar did not have an easy task in inheriting a rail sector where there was an urgent need for at least a R40 billion capital investment… but he did well even under these circumstances,” said De Vos.
He said Omar believed in communication with the labour and had helped in preventing any hasty decisions that could have led to threats of mass demonstrations.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa conveyed his condolences to Omar’s family. Holomisa said he had known Omar since 1989 when they met under the auspices of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers, and during the negotiations at Codesa.
Holomisa and Omar served in for president Nelson Mandela’s Cabinet. The UDM leader said Omar was ”a father figure for many, a rational person, a thinker, a warm person. On behalf of the UDM we convey our condolences to his wife, family and friends as well as the African National Congress.”
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for transport S’bu Ndebele also expressed his condolences to the family and relatives of Omar.
”Dullah as he was fondly known was not only a personal friend and comrade but a highly respected politician, lawyer and a man of integrity,” he said in a statement.
Ndebele said Omar was fair-minded and never rested until his work was completed. He gave his life unselfishly to aid in the South Africa’s democratic transformation.
”His commitment and contribution to the people of South Africa will forever be remembered,” Ndebele said.
Omar was a respected opponent in Parliament who never engaged in personal attacks on other political parties or opponents, the Freedom Front Plus said.
”The Freedom Front Plus expresses its sincere condolences and sympathy with Mrs Omar and her family with the death of Minister Omar.
”The ANC lost a colleague, but the Omar family lost a husband, father and grandfather. Even though Minister Omar was seriously ill for some time, he continued under difficult circumstances to fulfil his obligations in the Cabinet and Parliament up to the last day of the current second Parliament.”
The party described Omar as a respected opponent in who never engaged in personal attacks on other political parties.
”We pray that his family will find strength in this difficult time,” the party said.
Kenny Mathivha, spokesperson for the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) said the bureau will miss Omar’s hard work and contributions to the automotive industry.
”We will cherish his work in the automotive industry over the many years he has been Minister of Transport,” said Mathivha.
He said the SABS had worked closely with Omar in all aspects that ensured motorists, commuters and pedestrians were safe in South Africa.
NNP leader Marthinus Van Schalkwyk said Omar’s death is a ”a loss to us all and to South Africa as a nation”.
He said that it was only last week the Western Cape Government awarded Provincial Honours to Minister Dullah Omar, yet ”no award is enough to really do justice to a lifetime spent in the liberation of his people, in his commitment to good governance and in his dedication to his country.” – Sapa
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