BERENG Soke, the former general secretary of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), has passed away after a long illness, the union confirmed on Tuesday.
Soke, who was affectionately known as ‘Chairman Mao, was elected Nehawu’s General Secretary at the health sector union’s 2014 Special National Congress, a position he held until June 2017.
He also served as the District Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District in the Free State.
“NEHAWU sends sincerest condolences to his family, friends and comrades in the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM). We wish his family strength and courage in the period of dealing with this dark hour,” said Nehawu spokesperson Khaya Xaba in a statement on Tuesday.
“His passing takes place while workers are bleeding and under a relentless attack from our democratically elected government which is currently driving a concerted plan to obliterate collective bargaining and collapse progressive trade unions. Many of our members and workers have lost their lives in numbers due to the constantly deteriorating working conditions.”
Xaba said Soke dedicated his entire life in fighting for decent salaries and safe working conditions of workers in general and public servants in particular.
He added that Soke championed workers shop floor struggles and spent his energy in defending the gains of workers against exploitative employers whose sole preoccupation is profit maximisation.
From 2001 he was the Regional Secretary of Maluti region a position he held until 2004.
He went on to act as the Provincial Chairperson of the Free State province and subsequently elected as the Provincial Chairperson from 2005 until 2008.
During the 11th Provincial Congress in 2008 he was elected as the Provincial Secretary until 2013.
He was later elected as the Provincial Secretary and later as the Provincial Chairperson, a position held until his untimely death.
“He will forever be remembered for his sharp analytical skills and calm head even under very severe stressful situations. In his honour, the national union will intensify its campaign to defend collective bargaining which is currently under attack from the government of the day,” said Xaba.
“NEHAWU dips its banners at the passing of this exceptional leader of the working class and will send details of the memorial and funeral service as soon as they are available.”
- Inside Politics
