07 May 2003
The South African Communist Party (SACP) is saddened to hear of the death of Comrade Walter Sisulu last night (13 days away from his 91st birthday, which would have been on 18 May)
The SACP held Walter Sisulu in high regard as a patriot, a son of the soil, a hero and leader of our people, a veteran and giant of the ANC. In his life and personality, in his easy-going non-racialism, unpretentious humility and passion for justice, Walter Sisulu embodied many of the values that have made an indelible mark on our country.
His character, role, vision, commitment, sacrifice and dedication to our people stands out as a shining example of the ongoing need for quality cadres, activists and leaders of our movement and people. Comrade Walter also symbolised the broad multi-class unity and character of our revolutionary alliance. He distinguished himself as a promoter and defender of the revolutionary alliance between the national liberation movement, the communist party and the trade union movement. As Raymond Suttner writes in his review of “Walter & Albertina Sisulu. In Our Lifetime. (biography on Walter and Albertina Sisulu by Elinor Sisulu) “Another `silence’ that is broken is Walter Sisulu’s membership of the South African Communist Party from the 1950s. It will be recalled that the Party was reconstituted as an underground organisation in 1953, and it appears that Sisulu was recruited in 1955 and later became a member of the Central Committee.”
He did not hesitate to struggle for decades against national oppression. He sacrificed the prime of his life, risking death and was incarcerated in Robben Island for 25 years. This is the kind of dedication and sacrifice we need today in order to build a better life for all our people. Comrade Walter’s life is also about non-racialism, non-sexism and internationalism.
It was for all these reasons that the 9th National Congress of the SACP held in 1995 unanimously made Comrade Walter Sisulu the first recipient of the Chris Hani Peace Award.
The democratic South Africa we are building is the best monument that we can build in honour of Comrade Walter.
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel - 011 339-3621/2, Fax - 011 339-4244; Cell - 083 651 0271
Email - mazibuko@sacp.org.za