SACP KwaZulu Natal Provincial Secretary Dies In a Tragic Car Accident
12 August 2003
The South African Communist Party (SACP) dips it revolutionary banner in
mourning the shocking and tragic death of its KwaZulu Natal Provincial
Secretary, Smiso Nkwanyana.
Around 05h00 this morning, Nkwanyana died on the spot in a car accident at Umgeni Road in Durban. The police suspect that he lost control of his vehicle which then rolled off the road, and hit a steel dust bin and an electric pole before rolling over several times. When the police arrived at the scene, the car was completely destroyed and it took more than an hour for him to be removed from the car.
Nkwanyana, 31, was born in Melmoth in northern KwaZulu Natal and lived in
Newlands West in Durban.
He was elected as the SACP Provincial Deputy Secretary in 1998 and has
served as the Provincial Secretary from 1999. He had previously served as
the Provincial Secretary of the South African Students Congress between
1997 and 1998.
At the time of his death, he had just been appointed as the Deputy Provincial Coordinator for Elections by the ANC in KwaZulu Natal after being seconded by the SACP to the alliance elections team.
He was undertaking studies for a BA degree from the University of South
Africa (UNISA) in 1998.
Comrade Smiso was central in rebuilding the SACP and leading its campaigns in the province. He was also central in strengthening the ANC and COSATU. His death is a big blow to the SACP, the alliance, the workers and the poor of KwaZulu Natal and all of South Africa. I feel personally robbed of a special comrade and leader of our Party who was a rising star destined to play a central role in the future of the Party and the struggle for socialism in our country, said Willies Mchunu, SACP Provincial Chairperson in KwaZulu Natal.
Nkwanyana also played an important role in the SACP nationally representing the SACP in various national and international gatherings and delegations.
A full biography, obituary and funeral details will be released in due
course.
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity
Tel 011 339 3621, Fax 011 339 4244,Cell 072 275 4723
Email mazibuko@sacp.org.za
