Skweyiya's fight was against the defilement of the ANC by 'some members' – Nqakula
ANC MP Charles Nqakula apologised to the late struggle stalwart Zola Skweyiya for "some members" of the ANC having called him a "so-called veteran" and "empty tin".
Nqakula was the ANC's final speaker in a motion of condolence by both houses of Parliament for Skweyiya, who served as an MP and member of Cabinet from 1994 until 2009. He died on April 11 after a long illness.
Nqakula told of how he and "Comrade Nosiviwe" – as he referred to his wife, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula – visited Skweyiya in hospital about six weeks before his death. When they arrived he was asleep, but as he awoke he pulled himself upright and started "pumping [them] with political questions" and discussed "matters relating to the organisation (ANC)". Nqakula said he didn't want to raise those matters.
"I want to apologise to Comrade Zola that some members defined him as 'so-called veterans' and 'empty tins'."
Without being specific, he said Skweyiya fought against the "defiling of the ANC by some members".