COSATU's tribute to Madiba

December 5 2013 is a date which all South Africans - and millions more around the world - will always remember, the day in which a giant departed, after a lifetime of leading - and winning - our historic struggle for freedom and democracy.

This is a day to reflect on the momentous life of Comrade Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who served South Africa, and all humanity, in a way that no one individual has ever done or is ever likely to in the foreseeable future.

He was a humble son of the soil, who grew to be a global icon, a freedom fighter, a revolutionary cadre, who dedicated his whole life to the fight against tyranny, oppression and racism.

But unlike many other successful fighters, despite having spent more than two decades in an apartheid prison, he did not emerge embittered; he did not celebrate the victory he led in 1994 with vengeance against his former enemies, but used his vast skills and experience to promote reconciliation and peace.

When he reached compromises with business and apartheid leaders, it was not a sign of weakness but a well-thought-out strategy to advance the revolutionary struggle in conditions of peace and democracy, which gave us the new South Africa and a model for the world to follow.

His personality always expressed compassion, commitment, honesty and selflessness. Comrade Madiba was a lawyer who could have lived a comfortable life with his family, but made the choice to devote - and indeed risk - his life to the revolutionary struggle to free South Africans from the chains of apartheid capitalism.

No-one will forget his most famous speech from the dock: "I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realised. But if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

He left it up to us and future generations to continue that struggle to see the promises of the Freedom Charter brought to life. That is the battle which still goes on today, with Madiba's life to inspire us. The best way to commemorate his passing is to obey the call he made during the ANC`s 50th National Conference:

"Here are the reins of the movement - protect and guide its precious legacy; defend its unity and integrity as committed disciples of change; pursue its popular objectives like true revolutionaries who seek only to serve the nation".

Our chief challenge now is to follow up the first, successful, political phase of our transition - the establishment of democracy and human rights - with an equally militant revolutionary struggle to achieve the second, economic phase - the restructuring of our economy to create decent jobs, speed up growth and distribute the benefits equitably among all the people.

Central to this campaign is the fight against the casualisation of labour, to outlaw super-exploiting labour brokers, for a national minimum wage and comprehensive social security. We need to speed up the struggle against crime and corruption and rid our movement of those who have jumped on board to advance their business interests and get rich quick at the expense of the poor.

At the same time we need also to honour Madiba's memory by resolving the internal problems COSATU has been going through. He would have been heartbroken to see the federation he trusted fall apart because of needless infighting. It would have been painful for the former president to see such squabbling within the trade union federation. 

How sad it would be if he had lived to see that the organisation that he honoured so much is collapsing. Let us use this sad day to remember how Madiba would have dealt with these problems - by sitting down and talking, not to find an easy way out and make empty promises, but getting down to the roots of the problem and not stopping until we find and enforce a lasting solution and find our way back to being a united, strong and expanding federation.

As we recall the life of Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, remember what we said a year ago: "Let us all renew our commitment to work for peace, justice, equality, human dignity, democracy and a better life for all the people. Let us fight against the demon of racism, tribalism, corruption and greediness. Let us strive to end the violence against women and children".

That is the best memorial we can erect to our unique, much missed leader.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, December 4 2014

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