African National Congress:

ANC STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF COMRADE KADER ASMAL

The African National Congress (ANC) is deeply saddened by news of the passing of one of the movement's foremost intellectual giants, Comrade Kader Asmal - former Cabinet Minister and ANC veteran. Comrade Kader's passing at around 4pm at the Constantia Medi Clinic in Cape Town has come as a shock to all of us.

Comrade Kader's immeasurable contribution in the liberation of South Africa ensured that the ANC earned respect from the international community and some progressive foreign governments. During his years of exile in Europe, Comrade Kader who was professor in institutions of higher learning, continued to raise the ANC flag high - deepening the understanding of the international community about the ANC and the South African struggle for freedom.

After the unbanning of the ANC in the 1990s, Comrade Kader returned to South Africa to continue with the struggle for liberation which led to constitutional talks that paved the way for the country's first democratic elections and the birth of the first democratic Parliament in 1994. He became one of the founder members of that Parliament and later served as a Cabinet Minister - first in Water Affairs and Forestry and later in Education.

The ANC salutes the sacrifices made by Comrade Kader, his family and his generation for what they endured for us to enjoy democracy and freedom. Without sacrifices made by Comrade Kader's generation, we would still be experiencing colonial and apartheid oppression.

We send our sincere condolences to the Asmal family, relatives, friends and the entire Congress Movement. We will await the family to finalise funeral arrangements before announcing further details.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, June 22 2011

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi:

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL BY PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI MP PRESIDENT OF THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY CAPE TOWN: WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE 2011

The death of former Minister and freedom fighter Kader Asmal has weakened our democracy and impoverished our Republic. One of the greatest independent thinking and outspoken minds has left us.

I had the pleasure of serving in Cabinet with Professor Asmal for ten years, and despite of him being the Minister of Water Affairs he soon became nicknamed the Minister of all affairs, because he felt it to be his duty to read all Cabinet memoranda and to provide a contribution where ever he could. He set the standard of good work, competency and efficiency at Cabinet level.

He was an infatigable worker, who believed in the dignity and necessity of work. He worked until the end. Monday last week, he was presiding over a meeting of the Parliamentary Institute of South Africa, a brainchild of his, which is about to be launched in a few months to enrich our democracy. Last week he was labouring over his important contribution to protect our Republic and its democracy from the threats posed by the secrecy legislation being considered by Parliament.

With his death the Republic has lost one of the most vigilant custodians of our freedoms and constitutional order, who never feared to speak up on matters of principle. He will remain an example of a courageous life, dedicated and inspired by the highest values a democrat and a man of principle can aspire to.

He was a man completely dedicated to the struggle for democracy, within the liberal tradition of tolerance and pursuit of maximum freedom and liberty. He inspired the ANC liberalists. One hopes that his liberal spirit will continue to inspire us all.

I can only hope that the political organization he belonged to, will now hold his example high to teach the values which forged our generation, so that they may also shape our younger generation.

May his soul rest in peace. My and my Party's deepest condolences to his family and the leadership of the ANC who lost such a great comrade.

Issued by the IFP, June 22 2011

Mbhazima Shilowa:

ASMAL A MAN OF HONOUR AND PRINCIPLE

Former Gauteng Premier and leader of COPE, Mbhazima Shilowa, has received the news of sudden passing of struggle veteran and former minister Kader Asmal with a great sense of shock and sadness.

Asmal was one of the very few icons and legends who still upheld the founding values and principles of the of the democratic movement and the liberation struggle.

He always stood out as he broke ranks in defence of the very same that were the foundation of our universally celebrated Constitution. He is one of the unsung heroes of our constitutional order and stood for all the princicles enshrined in that document until the end.

South Africa is no doubt poorer today as we face unprecedented assault of those values. We must pay tribute to a selfless man of honour and his death must be a reminder for all of us of the non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa we committed to build. We must never falter and continue to defend our the founding principles of our new nation in honour of these heroes.

Statement issued by Sipho Ngwema, June 22 2011

South African Communist Party:

SACP STATEMENT ON THE PASSING AWAY OF PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL

The SACP has learnt with shock and sadness of the untimely passing away of Prof Kader Asmal, a stalwart of our movement. The SACP sends its deepest condolences to family and friends, his relatives, colleagues and comrades in the movement broadly. This is indeed a sad loss.

Prof Asmal played an important role in our struggle to build a democratic, prosperous, non-racial and non sexist South Africa. He also played an important role in the transition especially in the process of drafting the constitution of the country.

He was an intellectual who loved robust debates and was always in search of new ideas in order to confront the greatest challenges confronting our country. Although we did not always agree with his ideas as the SACP however we respected his intellectual contribution in the task of reconstructing and developing our country.

Professor Asmal served the movement with dedication both as an NEC member and as Minister in Government responsible firstly for Water Affairs and Forestry and later Education. In his honour we need to build a new crop of young intellectuals committed to the non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.

We dip our red flag deep in honour of this hero of our people.

Statement issued by the SACP, June 22 2011

Helen Zille:

DA mourns death of Prof. Kader Asmal

On behalf of the Democratic Alliance, I convey my sincere condolences on the death of Professor Kader Asmal to his wife Louise and his family.

Prof. Asmal will be remembered for many things, but particularly for his scholarship, and his contribution to entrenching constitutionalism in South Africa. He left Parliament on principle, refusing to vote for the abolition of the Scorpions. He was the author of a path-breaking analysis of the chapter 9 institutions, particularly their politicization through "cadre deployment." Unfortunately his authoritative 260-page report has still not been debated in Parliament.

Prof Asmal was far more than a politician. He represented the best of a generation of struggle heroes who made unimaginable sacrifices to realise a democratic South Africa.

We will honour his memory by vigilantly guarding the constitution and by achieving the vision of a South Africa that offers the opportunity of a better life for all.

Lala Ngoxolo.

Issued by the DA, June 22 2011

President Jacob Zuma:

Condolences on passing of Professor Kader Asmal

On behalf of government and the people of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma has extended heartfelt condolences to the family of Professor Kader Asmal, former Minister of Education as well as Water Affairs who passed on earlier today.

Professor Asmal made a sterling contribution to the struggle for liberation and sacrificed a lot in his life to ensure the attainment of freedom and democracy.

In the dawn of freedom he served in government, making a noticeable mark in the water and education portfolios in Cabinet.

He will be remembered for his energy, forthrightness, efficiency and commitment to making this country a better place each day. He will also always be remembered for his passion for human rights for all.

Funeral arrangements will be announced after consultation with the family.

Issued by Zizi Kodwa, the Presidency, June 22 2011

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