By Buziwe Nocuze
ANC members and community members gathered at the Gugulethu Sports Complex in Cape Town to remember former Labour Minister and High Commissioner to Canada, Membathisi Mdladlana.
His body was cremated before the memorial service, which will be held on Saturday.
Senior ANC figures attended, including National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe, former ministers Ngconde Balfour and Trevor Manuel, Judge Seraj Desai, Pallo Jordan, and James Ngculu. Mantashe shared words of comfort with the family.
“We all lost a very honest person who loved his work. You must find it in your hearts as he played his role and left a good legacy behind,” said Mantashe, who first met Mdladlana in 1990 when he was a teacher.
“During that time, I was the national organiser of the mine workers. We undertook a task to partner with the teachers and work together to build an organising team that was led by a SADTU organiser to develop a manual to organise teachers.”
Mantashe praised Mdladlana’s honesty during his time as the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) president.
“He would not hide things he didn’t like, and we never had any differences. He was later elected to parliament and again displayed his capabilities, being appointed as the Minister of Labour,” said Mantashe.
He also noted Mdladlana’s efforts in rebuilding the ANC in the Western Cape after the party lost power in the province.
Family member Nomkhululi Matiwane remembered her brother as someone who loved people.
“He was the first person to be a teacher in our family, and he took care of his family. He loved the country and was very strict. He would say if he didn’t like something and was always preaching about the importance of education,” said Matiwane.
ANC veteran Mampe Ramotsamai said Mdladlana changed how people viewed teachers.
“People always asked why he joined the struggle while he was a teacher. He did so because he loved his country and wanted to develop Gugulethu,” said Ramotsamai.
Pictured above: ANC Western Cape held a memorial service for former Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, at the Gugulethu Sports Complex in Cape Town.
Source: Buziwe Nocuze
