President Jacob Zuma and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi laughed through the ANC leader’s veiled criticism of some unionists in the tripartite alliance as behaving as though they were political party members.
Soon after Zuma completed his speech at the formal reception of the remains of ANC and SA Communist Party stalwarts Moses Kotane and JB Marks, which were exhumed in Russia and flown to South Africa for repatriation, he went around greeting various leaders.
And just as he was about to exit the airforce warehouse in which the reception was held, a laughing Zuma shook hands with Vavi and told him: “Nginifumene! .
They later embraced and chatted briefly, but Vavi’s response was inaudible.
Zuma had earlier warned unionists in the tripartite alliance not to overdose on Marxism.
He slammed the current state of unions, saying the current struggle of the workers was not as sharp as it used to be.
“I’ve never hear you talk about a classless society, you just criticise the ruling party,” Zuma said to thunderous applause.
He was surrounded by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Buti Manamela, Rural Development and Land Reform Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Minister Bheki Cele.
“Ngizonithola ngeliny’ilanga ,” Zuma said, smiling. According to Zuma, today’s Marxists say “socialism is the future, build it now but do not talk about class”, he added.
“Niyayigqokisa , you say the gap is between black and white. You don’t talk about class.”
He also promised to ensure that the remains of other anti- apartheid activists were brought back to South Africa.
“We will not rest until all our comrades are back,” he said.
Yesterday, when the chartered flight carrying the coffins with the remains of Kotane and Marks touched down at Waterkloof Air Force Base, every single member of the Kotane clan present had tears in their eyes.
The former SACP general secretary’s son, Sam Kotane, his 103-year-old mother Rebecca, his siblings and her grandchildren could not hold back their tears.
- Kotane was a leading member of the African National Congress as well as of the SACP, serving as treasurer general from 1963 to 1973.
From 1956 to 1961 he was a defendant in the Rivonia Treason Trial alongside fellow South African leaders Nelson Mandela, Joe Modise, Albert Luthuli, Joe Slovo, Walter Sisulu and 151 others.
Walter Sisulu credited him as a “giant of the struggle” because of his logical and non-dogmatic approach.
Kotane suffered a stroke in 1968.
He went for treatment in the Soviet Union, where he died on 19 May 1978.
He was buried in Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.
Teacher, trade unionist and political activist John Beaver Marks one of the leaders of the defiance campaign, was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act in 1952.
He served a prison sentence for breaking the banning order.
Marks served as president of the Transvaal Branch of the African National Congress and was elected chairman of the SA Communist Party in 1962.
In 1963 he was sent to the ANC external mission in Tanzania.
He became ill in 1971 and went to the then-Soviet Union.
He died of a heart attack in Moscow the following year.
He was also buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Kotane will be reburied in Pella, North West, on March 14, and Marks in Ventersdorp, on March 22.
Zuma has granted them both special official funerals.
A heroes’ welcome for stalwarts
Soon after Zuma completed his speech at the formal reception of the remains of ANC and SA Communist Party stalwarts Moses Kotane and JB Marks, which were exhumed in Russia and flown to South Africa for repatriation, he went around greeting various leaders.
And just as he was about to exit the airforce warehouse in which the reception was held, a laughing Zuma shook hands with Vavi and told him: “Nginifumene! .
They later embraced and chatted briefly, but Vavi’s response was inaudible.
Zuma had earlier warned unionists in the tripartite alliance not to overdose on Marxism.
He slammed the current state of unions, saying the current struggle of the workers was not as sharp as it used to be.
“I’ve never hear you talk about a classless society, you just criticise the ruling party,” Zuma said to thunderous applause.
He was surrounded by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Buti Manamela, Rural Development and Land Reform Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Minister Bheki Cele.
“Ngizonithola ngeliny’ilanga ,” Zuma said, smiling. According to Zuma, today’s Marxists say “socialism is the future, build it now but do not talk about class”, he added.
“Niyayigqokisa , you say the gap is between black and white. You don’t talk about class.”
He also promised to ensure that the remains of other anti- apartheid activists were brought back to South Africa.
“We will not rest until all our comrades are back,” he said.
Yesterday, when the chartered flight carrying the coffins with the remains of Kotane and Marks touched down at Waterkloof Air Force Base, every single member of the Kotane clan present had tears in their eyes.
The former SACP general secretary’s son, Sam Kotane, his 103-year-old mother Rebecca, his siblings and her grandchildren could not hold back their tears.
From 1956 to 1961 he was a defendant in the Rivonia Treason Trial alongside fellow South African leaders Nelson Mandela, Joe Modise, Albert Luthuli, Joe Slovo, Walter Sisulu and 151 others.
Walter Sisulu credited him as a “giant of the struggle” because of his logical and non-dogmatic approach.
Kotane suffered a stroke in 1968.
He went for treatment in the Soviet Union, where he died on 19 May 1978.
He was buried in Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.
Teacher, trade unionist and political activist John Beaver Marks one of the leaders of the defiance campaign, was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act in 1952.
He served a prison sentence for breaking the banning order.
Marks served as president of the Transvaal Branch of the African National Congress and was elected chairman of the SA Communist Party in 1962.
In 1963 he was sent to the ANC external mission in Tanzania.
He became ill in 1971 and went to the then-Soviet Union.
He died of a heart attack in Moscow the following year.
He was also buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Kotane will be reburied in Pella, North West, on March 14, and Marks in Ventersdorp, on March 22.
Zuma has granted them both special official funerals.
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