The founder of the African National Congress’s Economic Research Unit, Selebano Zacharia Matlhape, was a lifelong fighter for democracy, the ANC said in paying him tribute on Friday following his death last week.
”The ANC extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to his family, friends and comrades. South Africa bids a sad farewell to one its most remarkable sons,” said ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama.
Matlhape, who will be buried on Saturday, was born in Bloemfontein on September 17 1936.
He was one of 12 students who travelled by road from South African to Khartoum, Sudan, in 1960.
He served the ANC in exile, representing it in various international forums even during study breaks. He went on to work at ANC headquarters in Lusaka between 1979 and 1982, and co-founded the ANC’s Economic Research Unit.
He founded and directed the Netherlands-based South African Economic Research and Training Project on post-apartheid planning and contributed to developing the ANC policy that formed the basis for post-apartheid reconstruction and development.
On his return to South Africa in 1990, Matlhape co-founded the Mangaung Education and Development Trust.
He also helped formulate proposals for socio-economic development in the Free State after the 1994 elections and served in the provincial government as special adviser to former premier Winkie Direko and her successor, Beatrice Marshoff. — Sapa