6 January 1995
The SACP mourns the loss of our leader and chairperson, Comrade Joe Slovo
Comrade Slovo joined the Communist Party as a 15 year old and remained a loyal member of the Party to the end.
He was never inflexible in his beliefs and always prepared to revise views. His article "Has Socialism Failed?" was a landmark contribution to the renewal of socialist ideas internationally.
Latterly, as Minister of Housing, Comrade Slovo underlined what he understood communism to be - not a dogma, but an active engagement aimed at meeting the needs of the majority.
Comrade Slovo's life need not have taken the course it did. He had before him the possibility of a highly successful career as an advocate. Instead he threw in his lot with the People's Army, Umkhonto we Sizwe, which he served with great dedication and distinction, form its inception.
He brought to our liberation movement and our Party a rigorous intellect, a strong sense of realism an sharp wit. It is a tradegy that these were qualities that a wider South African public was only able to appreciate in the last years of his life.
The SACP extends its heartfelt condolences to Comrade Joe's wife, Helena, his daughters, his step-daughters and his wider family.
Signed:
Charles Nqakula
General Secretary