Speaker, I move the motion printed in the name of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party on the Order Paper as follows:
That the House -
1) notes with deep sadness the death of ANC struggle veteran and former Member of Parliament, Mr Henry Fazzie, who died after a short illness in hospital at Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape at the age of 87;
2) further notes that Mr Fazzie was amongst the first representatives of the ANC in Parliament during the era of former President Nelson Mandela and served for more than 10 years;
3) remembers that he was one of the volunteers of the ANC who spearheaded the formation of the military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto weSizwe, in the 1960s;
4) further remembers that Mr Fazzie was part of the leadership of the Port Elizabeth Black Civic Organisation, Pebco, which organised the consumer boycott in the 1980s, made the western part of the Eastern Cape ungovernable, culminating in the collapse of black local authorities in the mid 1980s and played an important role in the activities of the United Democratic Front and the Release Mandela Campaign;
5) recalls that he also served a number of years in prison during the apartheid years, serving 20 years in prison under the Sabotage Act, which was later on appeal reduced to 12 years;
6) believes that Mr Fazzie played a crucial role in the liberation of South Africa from the tyranny of apartheid to a united nonracial, nonsexist democratic and prosperous South Africa; and
7) conveys its heartfelt condolences to the Fazzie family, his wife, children and grandchildren, the ANC and the alliance.
Speaker, it is a great honour for me to stand here today to pay tribute to the hon Henry Fazzie. He had all the characteristics of a true struggle veteran, having sacrificed over 21 years of his life on Robben Island and having gone through the rank and file of the United Democratic Front, UDF, where he was deputy secretary, and the ANC, which he joined in 1949.
He came to Parliament in 1994, and I first got to know him in 1999, when he served on the Portfolio Committee on Transport. With both of us coming from the Eastern Cape, we immediately struck up a friendship, which often got us talking about his smallholding, the weather, his garden and his livestock.
We had something else in common: At that stage we both drove the same car. He often shocked me when he told me how fast he had driven from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town for a meeting that day. I think he wanted to beat the scheduled flight. I have a horrible feeling that he didn't like flying that much, but he certainly flew in his Cressida. I used to tease him about this, saying that as a stalwart of our Portfolio Committee on Transport, he shouldn't travel that fast and should set an example for the rest of the motorists in our country. I emphasised that he was now getting too old to travel at those speeds, which he just laughed at.
Hon Fazzie and my association with him in the transport portfolio also spilled over into the Parmed Medical Aid Scheme, where he served as a continuity member of the board of trustees. This was when he missed coming back to Parliament for a short period after the 2009 elections.
His jovial nature and gentlemanly features with his-never-to-be-forgotten hat will always remain as permanent memory for me and, I am sure, all of his friends and colleagues who respected him as I did. His presence in these corridors will be sadly missed. May I therefore on behalf of the DA express our sincere condolences and sympathies to his wife, Buyiswa, his seven children and 21 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, not forgetting, of course, his friends and colleagues in the ANC, which I know he served with honour and distinction. Hamba kahle [Goodbye], Tata Fazzie. May your soul rest in peace.
Re bolela ka monna wa go t?ea gabotse, yo e lego gore ke ipona ke le mo ke emego nts?he ka lebaka la bophelo bja gagwe. Fazzie ke thomile go mo tseba ka 1994 ge re fihla mo go fihlela lehono. Se ke ratago go se bont?ha ke gore, ge re bala mangwalo, mo go Ditiro 16: 20-28, e bolela ka Poulo yo a ilego a ya kgolegong ya mamathing kua Roma, gomme o ile a ya kgolegong maikemi?et?o a gagwe e le go lokolla set?haba bokgobeng.
Fazzie o ile a ya Robben Island maikemi?et?o a gagwe e e le go lokolla batho bokgobeng. O ka se bolele ka Poulo gore e be e le mogale, wa se bolele ka Fazzie. Mo go Kutullo 1:9, Johannes o ile a t?ewa a i?wa sehlakahlakeng sa Patmous, ka ge a be a thulant?ha mmu?o wa kgatelelo wa mmu?i wa pele e lego Herote. Fazzie le yena o ile a t? ewa a i?wa sehlakahlakeng sa Robben Island. Ka a mangwe mant?u o swanet?e go bona gore o ka se bolele ka boPoulo le boJohannes ka mo B bebeleng wa lebala go bolela ka Fazzie go swana le bona.
Ka mant?u a mamngwe, ke nyaka go le bont?ha gore mokgalabje wo, e be e le motho yo bogale, wa maikarabelo ao e lego gore lehono ge o ka lebelela maloba ge go be go le kotsi, le rena baruti re be re na le poifo ya go thulant?ha aparteiti ka bont?hi. Re be re na le poifo. Fela Fazzie, le ge go le bjalo, o ile a emelela a kwi?i?a gore o swanet?e gore a re hwele. Go bile ka tsela ya mohuta woo.
Ba lekgotla la ANC, re le ba Cope, re kwele bohloko mmogo le lena. Ke ngwana a belegwa, ke wa batswadi ba babedi - ke wa monna le mosadi. Efela ge a hlokofala, ke wa rena kamoka ga rena. Ka gona, go robala ga Fazzie go bohloko go rena, re lla le lena, re na le lena, re kwele bohloko go swana le lena. Ke dumela gore ba ga Fazzie ba tsebae gore mokgots ei yoe mogolo wa Fazzie e be e le nna. Ke ile go kwa ke lehfu la gagwe, ka ba founela ke bot?i?a gore go direga eng, ba hlatholla gore ga a se le gona, o robet?e. Ke nyaka go bon?ha gore ke lla le lena.
Mangwalo a makgethwa...o momgwe a seke a re ga re ka kerekeng, ee ga re ka kerekeng, re ka gare ga Ngwako. Fela ke boledi?wa ke gore Fazzie ga a fapane felo le BoJohannes le -Poulo. Re t?ea gore banna le bas adi ba maatla ba be ba le kua go boRoma le -Isiraele. Le gona mo ba bile gona ba ba swanago le boPoulo le -Johannes; ke bo mokgalabje Fazzie.
Re re o e ikgathile tem a ya gagwe, re mo. Go rena re ?et?ego, eE ke re ka t?wet?a pele toro ya ga Fazzie go rena re ?et?ego re e t?wet?e pele ka khut?o. Moya wa gagwe a o robale ka khut?o modimo a mo gaugelea. Ke a leboga. [Legoswi.] (Translation of Sepedi speech follows.)
[Mr L J TOLO: This is an honourable man we are talking about. I am personally here because he sacrificed his life. I met Fazzie in 1994 when I got here. I would like to share with you Acts 16:20-28 in the Bible that talks about when Paul was taken to prison in Rome. He was fighting for the release of his people from slavery. Fazzie was taken to Robben Island because he was fighting for the release of his people from slavery. You can never mention Paul as a hero and not mention Fazzie.
In Revelation 1:9, John was taken to the island of Patmos because he was fighting against oppression brought about by king Herod. Fazzie was also taken to Robben Island. In the same breath, you cannot talk about Paul and John from the Bible and not mention Fazzie.
I want to bring to your attention that this man was a hero - a hero who sacrificed his life to free us from slavery. You need to look back and acknowledge that it was tough back then. As church leaders we had our fears in fighting against apartheid. We were scared; but Fazzie did it for us. That is how it is.
As Cope members, we share the pain with the members of the ANC. When a child is born, the child belongs to his or her parents - the child belongs to a man and a woman. But when the child dies, we all share the loss. We are saddened by Fazzie's death just like you; we share your pain.
I believe that Fazzie's family knows that I was Fazzie's best friend. I called them after hearing about the sad news and they explained to me that he has passed on. Let me indicate that I am mourning his death with you. The word of God ... please do not tell me that we are not in church, because I know that we are now in the House. I am only saying this because Fazzie was just like John and Paul. We do believe that there were powerful men and women in Rome and Israel. We had people who were like Paul and John even amongst us, and Fazzie, the old man, was one of them. He ran his race.
For those of us who are left behind, may we pursue Fazzie's vision peacefully. May his soul rest in peace and experience God's grace. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Mr Speaker, hon members, I stand before this House on behalf of the IFP and its president, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, to offer solemn words of sympathy to the dear family and friends of the late struggle veteran, Mr Fazzie, and to the community of the ANC for this loss.
I will not talk about Mr Fazzie's magnanimous and heroic deeds in the struggle for the liberation of our people from oppression. There are hon members in this House who can talk about that with penetrating eloquence and emotions befitting the occasion. I will not give an account of the courageous sacrifices he made, alongside many others, for us to enjoy these freedoms and liberties. There are those among his close comrades who can give such testimony with unequivocal authority.
However, when I silently reminisce about my early stay here in the city, particularly in Pelican Park, the parliamentary village, I think of the warm acquaintances I had with the late Henry Makgothi, the late Wilton Mkwayi and, now, with the late Henry Fazzie himself. Therefore words of comfort to us all must come from Spinoza's brief exhortation on or consideration of the Ethics of Death. He says:
The universe is stronger than we are. Nature is stronger than we are. This is why we die. To live is to struggle, resist, survive, and no one can do this indefinitely. In the end, we must die, and this is the only end that we can be certain of. To think about death constantly would be to think too much about it. But never to think about it would be to give up thinking. Besides, no one is completely free; no one is supremely wise. This leaves thoughts of death to happy days or gruelling nights, which we must accept.
May the soul of Mr Henry Fazzie rest in peace and may the good Lord comfort those left behind.
Speaker and hon members, on behalf of the UDM I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, the ANC and friends of the late hon Henry Mutile Fazzie, who passed away last weekend. Our hearts go out to you during this hour of grief.
Mr Fazzie played a leading role in organising various consumer boycotts in the 1980s. Like other members of his generation, he spent his life fighting for the liberation of our people.
After a long life devoted to the struggle for liberation, he became a member of South Africa's first democratically elected Parliament in 1994. The democracy we enjoy today, together with its institutions, exist because of the efforts of people like him.
We bid farewell to him and hope that his family will find consolation in the words spoken here today. Robala ka khut?o. I?e Morena. [Rest in peace. Thank you.]
Speaker, the ACDP joins this House in conveying its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the former Member of Parliament, Mr Henry Fazzie.
The ACDP acknowledges the high esteem in which he was held in terms of the role he played in the struggle for nonracialism, nonsexism and a united and democratic South Africa, and we commend him for his commitment to democracy and social justice.
We take note of the loss to the country's history due to his not having been able to share completely his recollections of the past in the history of the struggle. Mr Fazzie, who served Parliament for more than 10 years, is remembered and we recognise his death as a great loss to the ruling party and South Africa.
Mr Speaker, hon members, the family of the late Comrade Fazzie, yet another stalwart of the liberation struggle has fallen. Comrade Fazzie is no more. In the 1980s, it would have been difficult to talk about the struggle in the Port Elizabeth area without mentioning the name of Comrade Fazzie. He was a tireless and fearless fighter, and he was an inspiration to the younger comrades. His contribution in the struggle for freedom and his service to the country through the consumer boycott committee, Port Elizabeth Black Civic Organisation and other structures will not be forgotten.
On behalf of Azapo, I would like to convey a message of condolence to his family, friends and his party, the ANC. May his soul rest in peace. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, Ministers and Members of Parliament, the ANC is deeply saddened by the death of Comrade Henry Mutile Fazzie in hospital in the Eastern Cape due to illness at the age of 87. Comrade Fazzie was a disciplined and dedicated stalwart of the movement.
This veteran went through the ranks of the ANC, from being a volunteer to a unionist, commander of Umkhonto weSizwe, MK, and Member of Parliament. He proved that he possessed the attributes of a leader and gallant fighter during his military training in guerrilla warfare in Ethiopia.
His service included military service in Umkhonto weSizwe, a term as vice president of the South African National Civic Organisation, Sanco, Service as a Member of Parliament and in other areas where the ANC saw fit to deploy him.
In addition to his role as a soldier of the movement, he was tasked to facilitate the training and infiltration of guerrillas into the country to carry out acts of sabotage. In the early 1960s he was captured by the South African security forces in the then southern Rhodesia, today known as Zimbabwe, and was transported to South Africa to stand trial.
Consequently, in 1965, Comrade Fazzie was sentenced to 20 years in prison under the Sabotage Act. He served 12 years of his prison term, which had been reduced on appeal, on Robben Island. Upon his release, Comrade Fazzie continued being active in the civic movement the Port Elizabeth Black Civic Organisation, Pebco, from 1983 to 1992, and later as the Sanco national chairperson from 1992 to 1994.
Comrade Fazzie was among the leaders who waged an offensive against the oppressive government through the campaign for the total boycott of white shops in business in Port Elizabeth. These gallant leaders called for the unconditional release of all political leaders and the end of oppression of black people.
When the government declared Port Elizabeth a hot spot, Comrade Fazzie was among the leaders targeted by the security forces, and some of whom were brutally killed, such as the Pebco three, Champion Galela, Qaqawuli Godolozi and Sipho Hashe. It was just fate that due to a last-minute change of plans Comrade Fazzie did not travel with those comrades who were killed by the security forces.
Comrade Fazzie was detained on two occasions in St Albans Prison, first for seven months and consequently for three years. Due to mounting pressure on government over the boycott campaigns, he was released and placed under house arrest. Even though he was banned, he continued to play a critical role in intensifying the struggle towards a nonracial, democratic South Africa.
These were leaders in the defiance of that system; a defiance that was displayed when the ANC and SACP flags were hoisted during rallies at the Dan Qeqe Stadium and at funerals of activists murdered by the apartheid police and army. This was lifted when the ANC won a court application. The court ordered that the banning order be lifted because it was illegal and contained no valid reason or evidence given for it having been issued.
During the advent of the democratic dispensation, Comrade Fazzie was among the first ANC members deployed to serve the interests of the black people of South Africa in the national Parliament. This was a critical moment for Parliament as the legislating arm of the state. Parliament had to legislate in order to give effect to the new democratic dispensation. This meant that all the unjust laws needed to be repealed and amended and new legislation was also to be passed. This was indeed a challenge, and new members had to adjust quickly to the environment. He served his term as a Member of Parliament with distinction. Indeed, this is a great loss to the ANC, family and friends.
Comrade Fazzie leaves behind his wife, Hilda, two children and grandchildren. The ANC extends its heartfelt condolences to the family. May they be consoled by the knowledge that their father, grandfather and husband contributed immensely to the freedom they now have the opportunity to enjoy. May his soul rest in peace.
Akuhlanga lungehlanga, tutwini. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [Please accept what has happened as fate, be consoled. [Applause.]]
Debate concluded.
I take it that there are no objections to the adoption of the motion by the House. Hon members, you will remember that we usually only observe a moment of silence if a member passes away while in office. We will send the condolences of the House to the family, the ANC and the alliance as a whole. I thank you. Agreed to.