PRESS STATEMENT: Farewell Dear Comrade Jackson Mthembu – From the Palestine solidarity movement
22 January 2020
The #Africa4Palestine team joins fellow South Africans and indeed fellow Africans, across the political spectrum, in expressing our deep sadness at the passing of South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Comrade Jackson Mthembu.
Minister Mthembu was a student activist in the struggle against Apartheid during which he was arrested and charged by the Apartheid regime. He later served as the spokesperson of the South African Council of Churches, and thereafter spokesperson of the ANC during the Presidency of Nelson Mandela. Later he also served as a National Executive Committee member of the ANC. While in government he was a fierce and firm campaigner against corruption and a committed servant of the people who strove towards making South Africa a more just and equal society.
Mthembu was a dear friend of our board members and our organization. He always made himself available to the #Africa4Palestine team, we cooperated on several campaigns and activities and he always took out time from his very busy schedule to participate in Palestine solidarity programs.
Above all, Minister Mthembu was a kind, genuine and sincere person. While he stood up for what he believed in, he was equally always humble.
The Palestinian solidarity movement has lost a true fighter. The people of the South Africa are indeed poorer without him and Palestinians have lost a true friend. Comrade Jackson led the way and practically showed us how to be courageous yet kind, committed to one’s own people yet also an internationalist championing the struggles of others.
We join our president, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, and the peoples of South Africa in sending our sincere condolences to the family of Comrade Minister Jackson Mthembu – a larger than life fighter, activist, parliamentarian, politician, parent, husband and friend to so so many.
Here we share a short 1 minute video of Comrade Jackson at a protest we had co-organized in Cape Town: https://youtu.be/YUCPkVyZ5Us
ISSUED BY TISETSO MAGAMA ON BEHALF OF AFRICA4PALESTINE
Spokesperson, Tisetso Magama: +27614146348
Director, Muhammed Desai: +27842119988
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