Parliament, Tuesday 11 December 2018 - The National Council of Provinces Chairperson Ms Thandi Modise has urged guests during the roundtable discussion in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of MaSisulu and Madiba to make a commitment to live up to their ideals and to change the lives of the poor, the oppressed, the wretched and the despised.

The commemorative event, which was jointly organized by the Embassy of South Africa and the Institute for African Studies in Moscow, was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, academia, students and distinguished Russian citizens who are the recipients of the National Order of the Companion of OR Tambo in Silver. Ms Modise, who is currently on a two-day official visit to the Russian Federation, gave a keynote address at the event.

Earlier this year, both the Government and the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa resolved to dedicate 2018 to celebrate Mandela and MaSisulu to renew and reaffirm commitment to the noble values, principles and ideals for which they stood.

Both the Presiding Officers of Parliament, Ms Modise and National Assembly Speaker Ms Baleka Mbete, have this year participated and addressed wide range of international events, galvanizing the international community around the principles and values espoused by Madiba and MaSisulu. A few months ago, in special sessions, the UN at its 73rd General Assembly, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union at its 139th Assembly - the largest global platform of legislatures - in October - acknowledged Madiba’s immeasurably meaningful contribution to peace and a just world. A statue of Madiba was unveiled at the UN HQ in New York on 24 September.

The NCOP Chairperson told the guests gathered to honour the two giants the liberation struggle this afternoon: “We are celebrating the lives of these distinguished and selfless servants of our people.... These were giants who played an important role in the fight against apartheid. They dedicated their lives to the struggle for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society. Let us emulate them.”

She said Madiba was a leader who insisted that he was part of the mass liberation movement; a part of a collective of leaders who were servants of the people; he was honest, frank, faithful and exemplary and put the people first. “He taught us that it was right and noble to suppress the “self” in order to achieve with others for the greater good.”

Ms Modise said that as the nation was nearing the conclusion of the year-long commemoration, all those who honour him must do so in ways that replicate his courage, his humility, his intellect, his willingness to sacrifice, his capacity to forgive and his wisdom to acknowledge the humanity in others.

Turning to MaSisulu, Ms Modise remembered her as a fearless freedom fighter, Mother of the Nation, a dedicated champion for gender equality and the advancement of women in our society.

“Mama Albertinah Sisulu’s name is rooted into the heroic struggle of South Africa against colonialism and Apartheid, her name is etched in the peoples’ march for democracy and the building of a democratic, non- racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa. She was always advocating for simple, inclusive, paced strategies which bore results. She asked simple questions which forced us to pause and reconsider our programs and our methods.”

MaSisulu, she stressed, showed immense courage and daring in the face of adversity. She encouraged dialogue between maids and madams, she led a sit-in at Tuynhuis and demanded the release of all political prisoners. Ms Modise remembered MaSisulu as a humble but forceful woman who kept her dignity throughout decades of government harassment.

“Nelson Mandela and Albertinah Sisulu were lifelong friends and comrades, with lives interwoven by blood ties, struggle lives and unwavering determination to defeat the minority oppressive rule. They belonged to a generation of courageous champions of human rights and social justice. Their efforts paved the way for the liberties we have now entrenched into our Constitution. We draw strength, inspiration and courage from the selfless legacy they left us through their exemplary leadership.”

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 

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