18 August 2009

On behalf of the Inkatha Freedom Party and its President Buthelezi I wish to join this House in expressing condolences to the African National Congress and to the family and friends of Johannes Phumani "Past Four" Phungula on his untimely passing earlier this month.

Phungula's premature death speaks powerfully to our past - it is during our struggle for freedom that my party, the IFP, often referred to our comrades in exile such as Phungula as our brothers. We were ridiculed for using this term by organisations such as the Jeugkrag but our vision and hunger for a free, equal South Africa is what unified the different components of the liberation struggle in achieving our common goal.

The National Cultural Liberation Movement, from which the IFP was born, had as it aim a multi-strategy approach for the freedom of our people and for a united non-racial democratic country. This too was the vision of Johannes Phumani "Past Four" Phungula and the IFP today honours Phungula as a struggle veteran, a mentor to many South Africans, an honest leader who served this Parliament and his country with commitment, discipline, dedication and vigour.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation's Achmat Dangor once said that the legacies of truly remarkable people should become instruments for challenging the many obstacles we face today. Let us therefore remind ourselves why people like Phungula and many others fought for a free democratic South Africa. Our liberation struggle was about the fundamental notion of serving the interests of the people and about the dream of giving everyone the opportunity of a dignified life, free from fear, need and hopelessness.

Let us never forget that our struggle will only cease once we have ensured a better life for all; once we have reached a point where every human life is valued and crime is not a crisis; once we overcome HIV, poverty and corruption; and once we are able to build a society based on strong family and moral values. Then only will we be truly honouring great South Africans that have come before us.

I thank you.

Contact: Liezl van der Merwe, 083 611 7470.