PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a special official funeral to honour the late Struggle stalwart and esteemed member of the Order of Luthuli in Gold, John Nkadimeng.
Nkadimeng passed away on Thursday at the age of 93.
The Category 1 funeral, to be held in Johannesburg on Friday, August 14, will entail ceremonial elements provided by the South African National Defence Force.
The president has also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations until the evening of August 14.
“We have lost a remarkable veteran of our country’s liberation struggle, who was a selfless, exemplary and courageous stalwart who contributed immensely to South Africa’s democracy,” said Ramaphosa.
“Bab’Nkadimeng was among the 156 Congress activists who were detained during the Defiance Campaign in 1952 and charged with treason in the 1956 Treason Trial. He also went to exile, taking refuge in numerous neighbouring countries.”
The SA Communist Party (SACP) said in a statement that South Africa has been deprived of a selfless hero and will be poorer without Nkadimeng and his invaluable contribution.
“Our heartfelt condolences also go to the people of South Africa as a whole. In memory of the fine revolutionary, the SACP calls upon the working-class and the progressive trade movement to unite and fight corruption to the finish,” the party said in a statement.
“It is through maximum unity and revolutionary discipline that the working class will also overcome the coronavirus pandemic, in memory of the frontline workers who passed away saving others’ lives and those who remain dedicated in the service to the people. Further, it is through maximum unity and revolutionary discipline that the working class will advance successful struggles to overcome the chronic crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic is deepening – the high levels of inequality, unemployment, poverty and unequal development.”
ANC zonal secretary Stanley Letsoalo paid a tribute to the selfless contribution made by Nkadimeng in the South African liberation struggle.
“The ANC Zone 16 would like to pass its condolences to the Nkadimeng family, ANC Veterans’ League and Friends of Cuba,” said Letsoalo.
“We actually knew how he felt about the current political realities facing our alliance and the African National Congress, all these can be witnessed from his love for a better South Africa, which led to the establishment of the John Nkadimeng Foundation.”
(COMPILED BY INSIDE POLITICS STAFF)
