Parliament, Friday 12 October 2018 - The Presiding Officers ofParliament, Speaker of the National Assembly, (NA), Ms Baleka Mbeka andChairperson of the National Council of Provinces, (NCOP), Ms Thandi Modise,learnt with sadness of the passing of former Member of Parliament, Mr EricMtshali this morning.
Mr Mtshali, who was fondly referred to as “Stalin”, was ananti-apartheid stalwart who joined the liberation movement in Natal as a youngman. He served first as a trade unionist who mobilized organized labourto protest against the injustices of the apartheid machinery.
Mr Mtshali then became member of the South African CommunistParty (SACP) and African National Congress (ANC), becoming one of the foundingmembers of its military wing, Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) where he served in severalcapacities, which included Chief of Personnel under Moses Kotane and JBMarks. Together with Chris Hani, Benson Ntsele and Don Nangu, Mr Mtshalifounded Dawn, a weekly MK journal.
In 2015, for his gallant fight against apartheid and immensecontribution towards the liberation of the people of South African, Mr Mtshaliwas awarded with the Order of Mendi for Bravery in Silver by former PresidentJacob Zuma.
In Mr Mtshali’s passing South Africa has lost one of the mostoutstanding and fierce warriors for social justice, equality, freedom,democracy and human rights. We pay tribute to this gallant revolutionary whohas made immense contribution to the liberation we enjoy today.
The Presiding officer extend their heartfelt condolences to theMtshali family, friends and colleagues.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
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