Let’s honour maWinnie through educating ourselves
I WOULD like take this opportunity firstly to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family of our grandmother Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and to the entire ANC.
Madikizela-Mandela gave up her life to ensure that we all received the democracy we are enjoying.
She departed this soil a happy mother after the ANC elected leaders that are ready to defend the unity and integrity of the ANC.
She left us during better times in the Eastern Cape when the ANC NEC endorsed the sober leadership of Comrade Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, which is to carry her torch and advance her vision of a better life for all.
We thank Mama for her dedication to the struggle for freedom and her love for our people.
Secondly, as we mourn the passing of our icon and grandmother, it must never elude us that forces of counter-revolution are active and waiting in the wings to pounce and destroy the ANC’s hard-fought democracy.
Some are not mourning, instead divulging strategies on how they can destroy the unity of the ANC and loot our coffers.
My call is to all ANC leaders to be vigilant and isolate those who are using the passing of our mother to advance their selfish interests.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate one of our sons of the soil who indeed was inspired by Madikizela-Mandela while growing up in the then Transkei, Dr Gaster Sharpley, head of the Department of Human Settlements, for his achievement.
Dr Sharpley paid tribute to Mama by graduating as a Doctor of Philosophy and Public Administration at UWC.
We young people are inspired by people who made education fashionable in order to advance the dream of Madikizela-Mandela.
Dr Sharpley is an example to our young people and indeed to the senior officials tasked with rebuilding this province of Madikizela-Mandela.
I salute Dr Sharpley, and indeed his achievement came at a time of high need in this province.
He is the sort of pillar who, in my view, will help the leadership of Comrade Mabuyane and indeed advance what Madikizela-Mandela fought for.
It’s a fitting tribute from all of us if we henceforth consider education fashionable.
We were relieved of the bondage of apartheid by Mama in order to better our people’s lives. Therefore, education is fundamental.
There is no other honour we can give our fallen heroes and heroines, such as Madikizela-Mandela, except education.
We can never unite the ANC without education.
I repeat my salute to Dr Sharpley for his fitting farewell present to Mama.
Thumbs up, Dr Sharpley, for your achievement. Viwe Sidali ANC Mzwanele Fazzie Branch, Former ANCYL REC Buffalo City Metro Region and activist East London