Committed ANC organiser passes on
ONE OF the longest serving ANC organisers in the country, Themba Nontlantana, 63, died last Saturday while serving as O R Tambo ANC’s regional organiser.
OR Tambo is the second biggest ANC region in the country after Ethekwini in KwaZulu-Natal.
Nontlantana was also a founding member of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), the biggest municipal workers’ union in the country, which was launched officially in 1987.
Born at Bhakubhaku village in Ntabankulu, he died following a long illness.
O R Tambo regional secretary Lulama Ngcukayithobi said Tshezi, as he was affectionately known, was the first organiser of the ANC in the then Transkei region after the party’s unbanning.
He retained the same position when the ruling party conformed to the municipal demarcation board’s divide of communities into districts and had been serving as O R Tambo regional organiser until his death last Saturday.
“I can safely say he is the longest serving organiser of the ANC who served in this position with commitment and integrity.
“He made selfless sacrifices for the ANC and his people until the end,” said Ngcukayithobi.
An anti-apartheid activist through and through, Nontlantana left for exile in the early 70s after being recruited to serve in the ANC’s underground operations. He was also recruited to Umkhonto weSizwe. Nontlantana received specialised military training in countries such as Russia and Cuba.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said his passing on has robbed the ANC of a comrade who worked “tirelessly for the liberation of our people.
“We would like to convey our most sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Lala ngoxolo [rest in peace] Tshezi. In you we have lost a teacher, an organiser, a freedom fighter and indeed a revolutionary par excellence,” said Mabuyane.
Nontlantana leaves his wife, Madlamini, as well as his children. His memorial service will be held in Mthatha next Tuesday and he will be laid to rest next Saturday in Ntabankulu. —