Pella - The remains of one of the finest intellectuals the country has ever produced, struggle hero, Moses Kotane was laid to rest on Saturday at his ancestral village of Pella in the North West province.
Delivering an oration at the reburial service, attended by former National Assembly Speaker, Max Sisulu, former President Kgalema Motlanthe, Kotane’s wife Rebecca and several Ministers, President Jacob Zuma described Kotane as a towering figure in the liberation struggle.
The mortal remains of Kotane and his fellow national liberation hero, John Beaver (JB) Marks, returned to South Africa earlier this month from the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, Russia.
The repatriation of the remains follows a process facilitated by the President during his working visit to Russia last year.
Kotane was the former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Treasurer General of the African National Congress (ANC) when he died of a stroke in 1978 in that country.
Marks died in 1972 from a heart attack.
President Zuma said the Kotane family and the nation will now have a place to come and mourn.
“The people of South Africa and the world will now also have a monument to come and pay their respects to, and draw inspiration from the life of Moses Kotane the fighter, teacher, commissar, and administrator, intellectual, outstanding patriot, revolutionary and giant of our struggle.
“We are filled with sadness but also pride and joy, for we have the privilege of celebrating the life of this highly regarded giant of our struggle for freedom. Kotane gave his whole life to the struggle for freedom, justice and equality,” he said.
Through Kotane, President Zuma said government wanted to inspire the youth to read, work hard and rise through the leadership of organisations through commitment, dedication and hard work.
“Today we begin a new chapter in his life and in the history of our struggle. It is the chapter of bringing Moses Kotane home...
“We have to bring Kotane home to our schools, universities, townships and rural villages. Our children, the workers, women, youth and indeed all our people, black and white, must know about this man who died in foreign lands in the quest for the freedom we enjoy today,” he said.
President Zuma said the late struggle hero succeeded through unmatched patience and tolerance to neutralise even the biggest anti-communist nationalists such as the young Nelson Mandela in the 40’s and 50’s.
Kotane was one of the earliest recipients of the ANC’s Isithwalandwe award, which was bestowed on him in 1975 in recognition of his outstanding contribution and sacrifice to the struggle.
He said South Africans needed to know all the illustrious men and women who made it possible for them to live as free, equal citizens in the land of their birth.
“They should know that this country produced more leaders, in addition to our icon President Nelson Mandela. South Africa has produced outstanding leaders whose lives will provide inspiration and lessons for generations to come.
“It has produced Moses Kotane, JB Marks, Yusuf Dadoo, Walter Sisulu, Andrew Mlangeni, Ahmed Kathrada, Albertina Sisulu, Sophie de Bruyn and many, many other heroes and heroines,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
