ANC Statement on the death of Harry Gwala

The African National Congress is deeply saddened to announce the death of one of its senior leaders and stalwart of our liberation struggle, Harry Gwala who past away today 20 June 1995 in the Midlands Medical Centre after suffering a heart attack.

Harry Gwala was born in July 1920 and grew up in the Pietermaritzburg area. His political commitment was to due to the early trade union movement. After completing his teacher`s diploma at Adams College, he taught at Slangspruit. Amongst his students was Moeral Secretary of the SACP in exile.

He joined the CPSA in 1942 and the ANC two years later. It was during this time that he began organising workers in the chemical and building industry and formed the Rubber and Cable Workers Union in Howick. Due to the large migrant labour population, it became difficult to build permanent structures, he however laid strong foundations.

In 1950 he was one of the organisers of the national stay-away and was listed as a communist and then banned. He then worked at Edendale hospital but was fired for organising hospital workers into the then SACTU.

After the banning of the ANC in 1960 comrade Gwala became active in the underground until his arrest in 1964 for sabotage and recruiting members for Umkhonto We Sizwe and was sent to Robben Island. He was released in 1972 and restricted to Maritzburg. As a result he could not pursue either his teaching or trade union activities, he then ran a laundry collection business in the area. Nonetheless, he was at the forefront of attempts to revive SACTU which had been dormant at the time due to detentions and bannings.

Following the workers strike in August 1976, Comrade Gwala was arrested with a number of other ANC stalwarts and charged under the Terrorism Act he was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island.

On Robben Island Comrade Gwala was known for his Marxist-Leninist teachings particularly amongst the youth. While he was in prison his wife Elda past away and he was not allowed to attend the funeral. In the 80`s a motor neuron robbed him of the use of his arms, leading to his release in November 1988. Despite all these, he continued to inspire millions of our people in the struggle for democracy, peace and justice.

He was elected the first Chairperson of the ANC in Natal Midlands after the unbanning of the movement in 1990. In 1991 Gwala was elected to the ANC National Executive Committee where he served until 1994. He was subsequently nominated to the SACP Central Committee until his suspensior the same year). At the time of his death, he was still a member of the SACP but not serving in any official capacity.

After the April 1994 elections Gwala was nominated as a provincial Member of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature where he also served as ANC Chief Whip. Our country has seen the dawn of freedom and justice due to the selflessness and an unwavering commitment of leaders of the calibre of Harry Gwala.

He is survived by his three daughters and several grand children.

Issued by the Department of Information
P.O. Box 61884
Marshalltown 2107
20 June 1995