Hon Speaker, hon Deputy President, I move without notice:
That the House - 1) notes with great sadness the passing on of the Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) Parliamentary Caucus, Alina Machejane Rantsolase, MP, on Wednesday, 3 November 2010, after a short illness;
2) further notes that hon Rantsolase became a Member of Parliament for the ANC in 2009 and has served on the Portfolio Committees on Home Affairs and the Portfolio Committee on Labour, where she played a significant role with regard to labour brokering;
3) remembers that, like many fellow young compatriots born during the period of political repression, she was compelled by material conditions of that time to join the youth anti-apartheid movement in the 1970s to fight against the minority regime's Bantu education and its exploitative labour system;
4) believes that Ms Rantsolase was one of the hardest working MPs, who managed to juggle her time prudently in discharging her responsibilities in the co-ordination of caucus political and administrative business, and political management of her committee as a Whip, as well as finding time for her organisational responsibilities in the ANC provincial structures in Gauteng;
5) acknowledges that the death of Ms Rantsolase has robbed Parliament, her organisation, the ANC and its alliance partners of a hard worker and outstanding leader who has spent her life serving the people, particularly the vulnerable and less fortunate, and who never shied away from any task, no matter how challenging it was; and
6) conveys its heartfelt condolences to the African National Congress, its Alliance partners and her family.
Agreed to.
Hon Speaker, bidding farewell to a member of this House is not a pleasant task, more so when the member, although relatively new to Parliament, has made such a huge impact in the short time she was here. The late hon Rantsolase became a Member of Parliament in 2009 and served on the Home Affairs and Labour Portfolio Committees. I had the privilege of working with her on the parliamentary grouping in international relations and members' facilities committees, and her input was always positive and in the interests of Members of Parliament.
The confidence her colleagues had in her when they nominated her Chair of the ANC caucus speaks volumes of her leadership qualities. She was instrumental in calming the waters of her caucus and charting a clear vision for them as a whole. Her track record as a proponent for better working conditions and a living wage in her early days as shop steward is perhaps the legacy she will be best remembered for. By all accounts, her willingness to be first in the picket line and advocacy of gender equality endeared her to many. She was desperately ill in the past month of her life, resulting in the untimely death at the relatively young age of 56. I am certain that her loss will be deeply felt by her colleagues in the ANC, her mom, six siblings, her daughter Puleng and her three grandchildren.
The tragedy of life is not in death but what we let die inside of us while we live. It is clear she lived a life filled with passion and energy. Her life was not in vain. Therefore, you can be proud of all her achievements even though she has passed on. We, in the DA, sympathise with you in this moment of grief and pray that, as the hon Rantsolase is laid to rest, her soul is in peace.
Hon Speaker and members present, we are rising on behalf of Cope and the people we represent to give our sincere condolences to the family of the late Comrade Alina Rantsolase. Our condolences also go to the party and South Africans she represented in this Parliament. Her early departure is, to many of us in this House and the country as a whole, not only sad, but also the end of her excellent contribution to the survival of millions of South Africans.
If she was lying here before us today, I would say to her that I am one of the few people who feel extremely saddened by her early departure. I would also remind her that her contribution was not only in South Africa but beyond our seas, where she did not attend international meetings to enjoy herself, she became part of a leadership that built true workers' organisations. I would also remind her that although she had not gone through basic financial training at an education institution, but through her practise as a shop steward, she developed an extreme level of capacity to lead hundreds of unions' treasurers in years of her being a national treasurer for a workers' federation.
I would further remind her that her contribution and commitment assisted in the creation of jobs in the country, because members will remember that in 1998 when President Mandela convened a conference of the workers' government and the civics in South Africa, more than R89 million was collected because of her contribution. Today workers can rise and say that 39 000 jobs have been established because of her contribution. We are also deeply saddened by the fact that we will miss the contributions made by this leader. Indeed, I must say that is extremely painful. Therefore, as Cope, we say "sepela gabotse [farewell] my comrade". [Applause.]
Ngiyathokoza, Somlomo, mhlonishwa Sekela Mongameli neNdlu ehloniphekile. [Thank you, Speaker, hon Deputy President and this august House.]
The IFP offers its deepest and most sincere condolences on behalf of the entire party to the family and friends of Alina Rantsolase on her untimely and very sad passing. Alina was a true leader of the people, a leader who walked her talk no matter the political consequences and a leader who, by so doing, gained the admiration and respect of all who knew her. Her untimely passing will leave a vacuum which, we can only hope, will be filled by another rising star of the same ilk as Alina.
Alina rose to the stellar heights of the parliamentary service of her nation and people from humble beginnings as a shop steward at Checkers. Her exemplary work ethic and relentless pursuit of not only self-betterment but also betterment of the people led Alina onto a sure path into politics, a path which, in her case, rewarded her hard work and ethical behaviour with greater responsibilities and duties which, I might add, she never shirked.
Alina was one of this Parliament's unsung heroes, a daughter to the family of the Parliament of South Africa, and we will miss her a lot.
Umphefumulo wakhe ulale ngokuthula, izihlobo zakhe ziduduzeke. INkosi ibe nani. Ngiyabonga. [May her soul rest in peace, and may her relatives find comfort. May God be with you. Thank you.]
Speaker, hon members, the UDM would like to extend its condolences to the family and friends of the late hon member of the ANC, as well as to her party and colleagues. By all accounts, as caucus chairperson of the ANC, the late hon member played an important role in supporting her colleagues.
The UDM also confirms what has been alluded to by previous speakers. Aside from her service as a member of this House, she committed her adult life to the cause of workers. Starting as a shop steward, she progressed through the ranks of the labour movement, culminating eventually in her election to the position of national treasurer of Cosatu in 1999. She occupied this position for a decade. Hers was a life lived in service to others. May she rest in peace. Thank you.
Agb Speaker, agb lede van die Parlement, dit is vir my 'n voorreg en 'n eer om namens die VF Plus ons opregte meelewing en simpatie te betuig met die familie en naasbestaandes van ons kollega, die agb Alina Rantsolase, wat verlede week oorlede is.
Soos wat ons gehoor het, is sy op 'n baie jeugdige ouderdom oorlede. Sy was ook nie lank in die Parlement nie. Sy het 'n kort kans gehad om hier te dien, maar sy was 'n lewende voorbeeld van iemand wat nie noodwendig die geleentheid gehad het vir formele opvoeding en onderrig nie, maar wat tog die hoogste sport bereik het en haarself uitgeleef het, ook hier in die Parlement. Dit is bekend dat sy 'n besondere belangstelling gehad het as tesourier en ook omgesien het na die finansies van almal betrokke waar sy was. Sy het 'n groot verskil gemaak, nie net in Cosatu wat die finansies betref nie, maar ook in die ANC.
Ek wil graag namens die VF Plus ons meelewing betuig met haar party wat 'n kollega verloor het. Ons eer haar gedagtenis. Ons het 'n kollega verloor, maar haar familie het 'n geliefde verloor, en ons dink aan hulle. Baie dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER: Hon Speaker, on behalf of the FF Plus it is a privilege and an honour for me to convey our sincere condolences and sympathy with the family and next of kin of our colleague, the hon Alina Rantsolase, who passed away last week.
As we have heard, she passed away at a very young age. She also had not been at Parliament for long. She had a brief opportunity to serve here, but she was a living example of someone who did not necessarily get the opportunity for formal education and tuition, but who still attained the highest step and lived her own free life, also here at Parliament. It is known that she had a particular interest as treasurer and also looked after the finances of everyone around her. She made a big difference regarding finance, not only with Cosatu, but also with the ANC.
On behalf of the FF Plus I would like to sympathise with her party for having lost a colleague. We honour her memory. We have lost a colleague, but her family have lost a loved one, and we think of them. Thank you very much.]
Hon Speaker, I rise on behalf of the ACDP to convey our sincere condolences to the family of the hon Alina Machejane Rantsolase, her friends, relatives, Cosatu and the ANC.
We note with interest that she was brought to Parliament as an ANC Member of Parliament last year as a reward for her contribution to the trade union movement. Her work ethic and impressive self-taught accounting skills made such an impact on her fellow MPs that she was quickly appointed chairperson of the ANC parliamentary caucus, and given the job of sorting out the finances in the party.
In addition to sorting out her party's finances, Rantsolase served on the Home Affairs and Labour portfolio committees where her hard work and refusal to play cheap party politics won her the respect of opposition parties. While her reported "no fear, no favours" approach and unflinching insistence that the rules be followed to the letter did not endear her to some in the party hierarchy, it earned her respect among many other people. Her status as an MP did not change her. She remained down-to-earth, friendly and approachable, and never forgot that she was there to represent the interests of the people struggling to earn their daily living.
The ACDP honours her for these much-needed attributes and qualities that all Members of Parliament should aspire to. May the God of peace bring comfort to her family, friends and members of the tripartite alliance. Thank you.
Hon Speaker, the UCDP would like to pass on its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Alina Rantsolase. She will be sadly missed for her contribution in the trade unions and her service in our Parliament. Her contribution to this democracy will also be missed.
Fa ke bua le ba lelapa la ga Mme Alina ba ba leng mo gare ga rona gompieno, ke rata gore moriti wa setlhare se le ntseng le tshabela letsatsi mo go sona o wele. Fa go ntse jaana ka Setswana ra re: (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[To the family of the late Alina who are with us here today, I would like to say that their provider is no more. In Setswana, in difficult times like this, we normally say:]
When everything fails, there is only one answer ... ... mme karabo e mo go Rara yo o kwa magodimong. [... and that is the Heavenly Father.]
The only answer is in God.
O tla le fodisa. Puleng, bana le ba losika, Alina o ne a le rata, o ne a le direla. Le lona le ne le mo rata le mo direla, mme ka metlha le nne le mo gopola. Se le neng le se dira mmogo le dumela mo go sona, le sale go se sala morago.
Fa e le rona re le Palamente re latlhegetswe, mme se segolo se ke tla se gopolang ka Mme Alina ke matlhagatlhaga a gagwe mo tirong, a re ithutileng go le gontsi mo go ona. Ka re go rona Maloko a Palamente ya Boset?haba, re ka mo gakologelwa sentle ka go tswelela go direla set?haba. Robala ka kagiso Alina. Ke a leboga. [Legofi.] (Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
[He will heal you. To Puleng, children and relatives, Alina loved and served you. You too loved and served her; always remember her. May you continue to do what you believed in and used to do together with her.
Parliament also feels this loss. Mrs Alina will be remembered for her determination to serve, from which we learned a lot. To the Members of the national Parliament, we will remember her for her eagerness to serve the nation. Rest in peace, Alina. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Mohlomphegi Sepikara, letsogo la Mopresidente, re le ba mokgatlo wa PAC ya Azania, re t?ea sebaka se go feti?et?a mant?u a hlobo?o go mokgatlo wa ANC le go lapa la Mme Alina Rantsolase.
Re le MaAfika Borwa re palet?we ke go di?a. Phiri e dikologile Mokhomoreiti Alina ya ba ya mo t?ea re le gona, ra ?ala re gitla sa masetlapelo sello. Lehu re hwile la pit?ana, la segwana nkabe re roka.
Mohlomphegi Sepikara, ke t?ama ke tswaka maleme. (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[Mr L M MPHAHLELE: Hon Speaker, hon Deputy President, as members of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, we are conveying our condolences to the ANC and the bereaved family of the late Alina Rantsolase.
Death robbed us of Comrade Alina Rantsolase, and all we are left with now is pain. We as South Africans could not save her from death. This is a great loss to us. Hon Speaker, I will code switch from one language to another.]
To the bereaved Rantsolase family, the PAC understands the pain you are going through, the pain of questioning what should not be questioned and the pain of denying pain. This pain too shall be healed by Mother Time, by every beat of the heart.
To Comrade Alina, I'll forever treasure the memory of travelling with you on a few occasions from Johannesburg to Cape Town; how we used to burst into laughter whenever we would realise that the airline did not update us from the economy to the business class. You shuttled between the economy and business classes with aplomb. You taught me a great lesson: that true leaders are never status-conscious. A leader will lead even from a donkey cart.
Today we hear your voice in our voices, see your wishes in our wishes, and they say you are still with us. Standing here breathing, part of us is dead. Lying there about to be buried, part of you is breathing. Long live Comrade Alina!
Hon Speaker, it is undoubtedly a sad moment for anyone to experience the sorrow of death.
On behalf of the MF, I convey heartfelt condolences and messages of strength, courage and fortitude to Alina's family, comrades and friends for their irreplaceable loss.
Our condolences also go out to the ANC for the loss of an impeccable leader who devoted most of her time working with the broad suffering masses. That is precisely why she has earned the title of "the people's champion".
She pulled no punches and acted without fear or favour when it came to executing her duties as a public representative. She was greatly respected for her organisational skills and lean and clean administration expertise.
With her amazing characteristic love and humility, she leaves a legacy of beautiful thoughts and admiration. She had the passion, courage and persistence to create change.
As we all live through the grace of God Almighty, let us continue to pray that God bestows strength to her family and friends during their time of bereavement.
May peace be granted unto her and may her soul, through the grace of God Almighty, rest in peace. I thank you.
Mr Speaker, Deputy President, the family of the late Alina Rantsolase, we have learnt with sadness about the passing away of Alina Rantsolase.
As somebody who worked in the trade union movement, I have had some interaction with Comrade Alina, albeit minimal. She had a certain presence and dignity, and it was difficult not to notice her.
I read somewhere that she had no formal qualifications in finance. I must say that there was no way of telling that from her performance. If this is indeed true, then she was a self-taught treasurer, and a good steward of the hard-earned resources of the workers.
Azapo lowers its banner for this gallant fighter and salutes her for the contribution that she made in the struggle for the advancement of the workers of our land. And we express our condolences to her family, the entire trade union movement and her political organisation, the ANC.
Long live the fighting spirit of Comrade Alina, long live! May her soul rest in peace! Thank you.
Thank you, hon Speaker, hon colleagues in the House ...
... boo Rantsolase, ditsala le ba losika, kwa tshimologolong fela ke rata gore... [... the Rantsolases, friends and family, I would like to start off by saying ...]
... we are gathered here today to celebrate a life and mourn the passing away of the late Comrade Alina Rantsolase, who was called to glory on 2 November 2010. Our presence here today is testament to a life lived righteously, a life that lifted others, a life lived selflessly in order to improve the living conditions of the majority of our people in this country.
It is with a heavy heart indeed that I stand here to address this august House and pay tribute to someone who has been a friend, a comrade, a mentor and a colleague for almost 37 years. We celebrate Comrade Alina Rantsolase's life mindful that words cannot even begin to express our sorrow, nor illustrate the large and eventful life that she led.
This Parliament's discussion here today pays tributes to her and it also provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the significant contributions that Comrade Alina Rantsolase has made in this country. All of us who are present here today will enjoy our individual and collective memories of Comrade Alina Rantsolase. As we depart from here we will also always remember her, as she was indeed a truly great South African.
Today we feel weak and helpless because death has robbed us of a true revolutionary and an exemplary leader. On this day, we feel a deep sense of loss because a caring heart has ceased to beat. The late Comrade Alina Rantsolase made immense contributions to the establishment of a new democratic South Africa.
Because of her fruitful life and many years of service devoted to the liberation cause, she became the embodiment of the progressive woman that we often speak of. Her body has left this material world, but her soul will shine forever in our midst.
Like most of us, our liberation heroes and heroines, Comrade Alina Rantsolase, as we have heard, was born in a rural village in the Free State on March 1954, during the height of the oppressive apartheid regime. Her mother was an ordinary domestic worker.
Born into a poor family and confronted by the socioeconomic realities of the then apartheid regime, Comrade Alina Rantsolase became involved in the anti-apartheid movement struggles while she was still studying. At that time, she was still very young. From a very young and tender age, the late Comrade Alina Rantsolase's sharp intellectual power stood out and she showed great promise as a leader with an extremely keen mind and a profound sense of perseverance.
Due to her involvement in politics, her schooling was naturally disrupted, like that of many others. She was subsequently employed at the Checkers store where we worked together. Following that, she was, not surprisingly, elected as a shop steward. Also, she played a pivotal role in negotiations at the time. She ensured that our trade union and the rights of workers are also recognised and fiercely fought for a living wage as well as better working conditions for all workers.
Like all other activists, she fought the apartheid government through serving in the civic structures, and also served at the lower ranks of our women structures. She didn't just rise overnight. She worked hard. She rose from the lower ranks of our movement and also became a leader. She became a national leader as early as the late 80s and she devoted her life to the service of the workers and the national liberation movement.
It was during her tenure as a shop steward and later as the national treasurer of the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union, Saccawu, her own trade union - because she didn't start by becoming the treasurer of the Congress of SA Trade Unions, Cosatu; she became the national treasurer of Saccawu and later the national treasurer of Cosatu - that Comrade Alina Rantsolase made her mark in the national politics.
She served as the national treasurer of Saccawu from 1993 to 1999, where we served together. She was then elected to the Cosatu national treasury, a position she held until 2009. She was then elected to this Parliament as a Member of Parliament, as we know.
Given the fact that she was a disciplined cadre, she was in her lifetime also appointed to serve as the chairperson of the disciplinary committee of the ANC in the Vaal region from 1998 to 2000. She was also the chairperson of the Human Rights Committee from 2008 to 2009. She served as a member of the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, executive committee and the Presidential Working Group from 1999 to 2000.
She also represented workers at the global level in the International Trade Union Confederation on the International Labour Organisation committee of labour standards and the Southern African Development Community Labour Social Commission and African Union Labour and Social Commission from 2003 to 2009. She was also a representative of Africa in the executive committee, which later became feared as the largest trade union secretariat there.
Comrade Alina Rantsolase remained down-to-earth, friendly and never forgot that she was a servant of our people. Her selfless and staunch commitment to the working class is codified in her illustrious career as a trade unionist. Hon Rantsolase was a woman of principle, soft-spoken but very profound. She could disagree without being disagreeable. She shunned superfluous and ever-versed posturing and always focused on the broader national picture and national agenda. Above all, she was a woman of her word who called a spade a spade and not an agricultural tool. She was a woman who always carried herself with dignity and right to the end of her life sustained her integrity, which was beyond reproach.
Hee batho, o ne a rata diaparo. Lesela o ne a le ja, a le montle ka dinako tse tsotlhe. [People, she loved clothes. She was stylish and she always looked beautiful.]
Comrade Alina Rantsolase also served on a number of committees here in Parliament, including the Home Affairs and Labour portfolio committees, as has been said. But she was also a member of the provincial executive committee of Gauteng province.
At the time of her death, Comrade Alina Rantsolase was the chairperson of the parliamentary caucus, as we know. Her untimely death comes as a great shock to all of us. We will forever remember her as a beacon of inspiration to all of us. She was a guiding light and a pillar of strength to all of us. In Shakespeare's words:
You will never see so much, nor live so long.
Despite the fact that she was held in high regard among her comrades, including members of the opposition parties, she never had problems in the organisation, as was said earlier on, even with the opposition. Comrade Alina Rantsolase never became conceited or arrogant. She never lost touch with her origins and remained committed to the poor and to the vulnerable until her last breath. She stood out as an irreproachable character.
The Good Book tells us that God works in mysterious ways in performing his wonders. I'm talking about God because Comrade Alina was a Christian. She was a believer. Comrade Alina Rantsolase was a wonder that God called to glory. If we believe Matthews' Gospel that the degree of our final reward is dependent on the extent to which we, as individuals, responded to the needs of our brothers and sisters, then we can take solace that Comrade Alina Rantsolase has earned a place at the right-hand side of God, and our loss, our grief, is heaven's gain.
Fellow comrades, let us recommit ourselves to continuing her struggle for a just and caring South Africa. Let us rededicate ourselves to her dream of a better world and a better South Africa, free of poverty, free of illiteracy, free of abuse of women and children, and free of crime. Let us rededicate ourselves for the building of that South Africa that Comrade Alina Rantsolase dreamt of and worked so hard for.
To the family, brothers and sisters and ...
... Puleng, ngwanake, yo o seyong fa ka maswabi... [... Puleng, my child, who unfortunately couldn't be here ...]
... stay strong during this difficult time. You stood by her, side by side, up to the end. We are deeply saddened by your loss. We will cherish the memories of the times we spend together with her. We are with you during this time of grief. May the peace which comes from the memories of shared love comfort you now and also in the days ahead. Be strong in the knowledge that in your veins runs the blood of a true cadre, a woman among women, a real woman of substance who will always live in our hearts and minds.
Long live the memory of our comrade, friend and sister. On behalf of the ANC, I would like to say, may her soul rest in peace.
Ka Setswana ga twe, lalang ka ntho, madi a tshologa. Ke a leboga. A mowa wa gagwe o robale ka kagiso. [Legofi.] [In Setswana, we convey our deepest condolences. Thank you. May her soul rest in peace. [Applause.]]
I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the family of Alina Rantsolase in the Speakers' Bay. The condolences of the House will be conveyed to the Rantsolase family, the ANC and its alliance partners. A book of condolence has been opened just outside the Chamber. Members are encouraged to sign it. Sorry, hon members, we are not rising, because we did rise when we announced the passing away of hon Rantsolase. Thank you.
Agreed to.