Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the House -
1) notes with great sadness the death of former ANC Member of Parliament, Chief Everson Thobigunya Xolo, on Friday, 2 March 2012, in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal;
2) further notes that Chief Xolo, who was born on 2 December 1946, died after a brief illness at the age of 65;
3) remembers that Chief Xolo was a member of the NA in the third Parliament, from 2004 until 2009, serving on various committees, including Correctional Services;
4) further remembers that Chief Xolo was a committed member of the ANC and a founder member of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, serving as its deputy provincial chairperson, then its national treasurer and national director of projects;
5) recalls that he was a pacifist and a benevolent leader;
6) further recalls that Chief Xolo will be remembered for his tireless work in bringing peace and stability in Port Shepstone during the political violence in the early 1980s and 1990s;
7) acknowledges his steadfastness and his continued preaching of peace and his promotion of tolerance in the face of turmoil, especially when his house was burnt down and an attempt was made on his life;
8) further acknowledges his commitment and courage in fighting those who sought to create no-go areas and his continued promotion of free political activity;
9) appreciates his contribution to furthering our democracy and working for peace; and
10) extends its heartfelt condolences to Chief Xolo's wife, six children, friends, colleagues and members of the ANC.
Chairperson, the DA associates itself with the motion of condolence for the late Inkosi Xolo. He served on the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services as a Member of Parliament between 2004 and 2009. He was a very diligent member of the committee who attended every committee meeting without fail, went on every oversight visit and read every submission.
Those of you who remember him will know that he had a loud and authoritative voice and a penetrating stare, as befitted his rank and status. The combination of both of those was enough to unsettle anybody who came to the committee in any way underprepared.
He also took his duties as a wise statesperson very seriously. I remember we once went to the juvenile section of Durban-Westville Correctional Centre and he was given the responsibility of speaking to the juveniles on behalf of the committee. He spoke isiZulu, which one of my colleagues kindly translated for my benefit, and he delivered a tongue-lashing of note to the young offenders. He told those young people that they were a disgrace to their families and their communities. He told them that they needed to make use of the opportunities for rehabilitation that the prison provided and he told them in no uncertain terms that he never, ever wanted to see them back in prison if he ever visited there again. All this was delivered in that very loud, characteristic voice of his and he commanded the attention of each one of those inmates and, I might add, the members of the committee as well.
On another occasion, we were travelling to Kokstad C-Max Prison and, on the way there, passed through Port Shepstone. He took great delight in pointing out every aspect of the area that was his home, his constituency and his traditional responsibility. He cared very deeply about the people whom he felt were his responsibility, both as a Member of Parliament and as a traditional leader. As we all know, that part of KwaZulu-Natal was the scene of great violence and bloodshed in the transition to democracy. The care he felt for his people compelled him to take responsibility for trying to bring peace to that area and thanks to his efforts and hard work and those of other peace- loving South Africans, political violence and political intolerance abated in that area.
I was very privileged to have known him. Sitting next to him on a flight between Port Elizabeth and Durban, he taught me a little bit about the duties and responsibilities of a traditional leader. As is the case when people pass away, I am left with regret that I did not spend more time listening to and learning from him.
The Correctional Services Portfolio Committee had two huge personalities serving on it who had very similar surnames. They were Bishop Tolo and Inkosi Xolo. Both have passed on and we are the poorer for that loss. The DA would like to extend our deepest condolences to his wife and children, to his community and to the ANC. May he rest in peace. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon members, whenever this House debates a resolution on the passing of one of the people who had the distinction of serving this House, the search begins for the contribution of that individual to the country. Even so, it is also a moment for us to contemplate our own mortality and the legacy that we will leave behind for others to remember us by, to cherish our memories of the departed and to continue with the work that we had begun.
Chief Thobigunya Everson Xolo is now no more. All he could have done is done. Reflecting on his life and the political issues that he was passionate about, we recall his unwavering commitment to free political activity and the need to deeply root our constitutional democracy in the soil of our country.
Chief Thobigunya Everson Xolo was a democrat in practice as in articulation. Democracy in our country, as in most countries, is paid for in the blood of its martyrs and nurtured through the sacrifices of its adherents and promoters. Talk of democracy is easy, but manifesting democracy in practice is difficult. Democracy goes hand in glove with the continued preaching of peace and the promotion of tolerance, not only in the face of turmoil but even in the exercise of power. Such a proponent of democracy was Chief Thobigunya Everson Xolo.
Governments come and go, and politicians rise and fade. However, in the end it is what we do for our people, for their security and their freedom, that is of lasting value. Today is a good time to do retrospection and ask ourselves whether the promotion of mutuality, tolerance and democracy was the function of the generation that is now passing, with no commitment on our part to take the baton and race ahead. The best way we can remember Chief Thobigunya Everson Xolo is to take up where he left off and add further dimension to his good work.
Hon Dennis Bloem, the then Chairperson of the Committee on Correctional Services, who worked closely with Chief Thobigunya Everson Xolo, remembers how passionately he used to speak about parents playing the role of parents in serving as worthy role models and instilling discipline in their children. This was such a cardinal article of faith with him.
To Chief Thobigunya Everson Xolo, values meant everything. He was a custodian of traditional values and he therefore understood how important it was for the preservation of society to inculcate and preserve values.
Cope wishes to say to his wife, his six children, his friends and colleagues in the ANC that they should strive to live by the values that Chief Thobigunya Everson Xolo espoused. Those values are immutable and for all times. Cope also takes this opportunity to extend its condolences to the family and all those who were close to Chief Thobigunya Everson Xolo.
Lala ngoxolo qhawe lamaqhawe, olwakho ugqatso ulufezile, eyakho indima uyigqibile. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [Rest in peace, hero of heroes, you have finished your race, you have completed your mission.] [Applause.]
Sihlalo neNdlu ehloniphekile, sifisa ukukhalela le Ndlu nokukhalela umndeni wakwaXolo ngokushiywa yiNkosi uXolo, ekwenze konke ngoxolo yaze yathembeka yahamba kahle ngoxolo. Inkosi yesizwe ephathe isizwe saseZingolweni ngoxolo, yafunda ukuba yinkosi endaweni yakwaNongoma eBhekuzulu College, yakwazi ukuphatha kahle abantu, yamela uhulumeni waKwaZulu omdala iqhamuka eZingolweni neNkosi uMachi osewadlula emhlabeni. Yaqokwa ukuba nguNgqongqoshe weZokuphatha koHulumeni waseKhaya nezemiGwaqo phansi kukahulumeni osuwaphela owawuholwa yiNkosi yakwaButhelezi.
Ukwakhiwa koxolo endaweni yaKwaXolo ngayo yonke indlela ayeyenza ngayo ngemuva kokuba eseshiselwe nomuzi wakhe. Iqhaza alibamba njengelungu leqembu le-IFP ngaphambilini, walibamba futhi uma elapha eNdlini eKomidini lokuHlunyeleliswa kweziMilo libe likhulu futhi lingelinganiswe. Ilale ngoxolo inkosi yesizwe, akwehlanga lungehlanga mndeni wakwaXolo. Enhlanganweni yakhe, uKhongolose, sithi labo abangamahlongandlebe sengathi bangafunda kahle ukuphatha ngoxolo [Uhleko.] bakwazi ukuba noxolo njengeNkosi uXolo.
Inkosi yayiphethe ngokuthula imamatheka ngaso sonke isikhathi kodwa ekushoyo ikusho kucace bha! INkosi iphile, iNkosi ithathile, sithi abakwaXolo balale ngenxeba, sekwehlile okungehlanga. Siyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Mr V B NDLOVU: Chairperson and this august House, we wish to convey our condolences to this House and the Xolo family on the passing of Chief Xolo, who did everything peacefully, was trustworthy and passed on peacefully. He ruled the people of eZingolweni peacefully. He studied to be a chief at Bhekuzulu College in Nongoma and managed to rule the people properly. He came from eZingolweni and represented the former KwaZulu government, together with the late Chief Machi. He was appointed as the minister of transport; homeland affairs and road affairs under the previous KwaZulu government, which was led by Chief Minister Buthelezi.
Initiatives to bring about peace in KwaXolo continued despite his home having been torched. The role he played before, when he was a member of the IFP, and the role he played again here in this House in the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services was great and incomparable. May the chief rest in peace. To the bereaved Xolo family, we say let us accept that God has given and that God has taken. To his party, the ANC, we say to all those who are ill disciplined that they should learn how to lead peacefully ... [Laughter.] ... and how to be peaceful like Chief Xolo.
The Chief ruled peacefully and was always smiling, but what he said was always clear! God has given; God has taken. To the bereaved Xolo family, may you find it in your hearts to accept what has befallen you as fate. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Chairperson, the ACDP learnt with great sadness of the passing at the age of 65 of former ANC Member of Parliament, Inkosi Xolo, on Friday, 2 March 2012, following a brief illness. As has been mentioned, he was an MP from 2004 until 2009, as well as a founding member of Contralesa. He served on the executive of this body in a number of capacities.
South Africa's peaceful transition to democracy can be attributed to many great leaders who took a stand against political violence, often at great personal cost. He was such a leader, a Christian who worked tirelessly towards bringing peace and stability to Port Shepstone during the political turbulence of the 1980s. I understand that there was an assassination attempt on his life and that he survived eight bullets.
During that time, in the face of that great personal danger and even when his house was razed to the ground, forcing him to seek exile in Durban, he continued to preach peace and promote tolerance. Today, we honour him for his uncompromising stand on the promotion of peace and reconciliation.
The ACDP prays that our Heavenly Father will comfort his wife, his family, his friends and colleagues in the ANC. May they take comfort in this knowledge: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Hamba kahle. Siyabonga. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [Rest in peace. Thank you.] [Applause.]]
Chairperson, hon members, the UCDP joins the ANC and other parties in expressing our sorrow for the dearly departed Inkosi Xolo. That he could leave the tribe and accept to stand as a candidate for his party shows that the chief was prepared to live for and serve the greater majority of South Africans.
As a progressive traditional leader, Inkosi Xolo lived up to his name. He was a pacifist and went on to serve in the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, where he occupied elective positions at provincial and national level. It is notable that he endeavoured to bring about peace in KwaZulu-Natal when brother rose against brother and son fought against father. That his house was gutted in the strife in those days says to us that he was at the coalface of the struggle.
As a sexagenarian, Inkosi Xolo had seen it all. He had been through the hardships of this world. We hope that his efforts to bring about peace will not be spurned by those left behind. The UCDP extends its heartfelt condolences to Chief Xolo's wife, children, family, friends and all who knew him, as well as members of his political home, the ANC.
Wanga angalala ngoxolo. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [May he rest in peace. [Applause.]]
Chairperson, there is no doubt whatsoever that great leaders hail from KwaZulu-Natal. [Laughter.] The MF expresses heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the late Chief Everson Xolo. There is no doubt in my mind that given the wonderful person he was, with an astounding personality and a remarkable spirit of humility, the late Chief Xolo will indeed be sadly missed.
Our condolences also go out to the ANC for the loss of a true citizen of humanity, whose honour came from fighting for benefits for his people with peace, dignity and integrity. He was an impeccable leader who was always prepared to fight, forgive and forget. I am reminded of a prophetic saying, one that Chief Xolo always practiced, namely that we must never lose hope in humanity. Humanity is an ocean and even if a few dirty drops fell into the ocean it would not make the entire ocean dirty.
Chief Xolo was an architect of peace in the spirit of togetherness and brotherhood. From God we have come and unto God we shall go. May his soul rest in peace in the high heavens.
Chairperson, colleagues, Inkosi Everson Thobigunya Xolo was born on 2 December 1946 at Ezinqoleni, KwaXolo in KwaZulu-Natal. He was the son of Inkosi Delihlazo and uMama weSizwe Gasta Khumalo. He had six brothers and two sisters. He passed away on 2 March 2012 and was laid to rest on Saturday, 11 March 2012. He is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.
INkosi uXolo yafunda e-Elim Mission naseNtunjambili, yafihlwa eGreytown ngaphansi kukaMfundisi uGwamanda. Yaqhubeka yafunda esikoleni samaKhosi eBhekuzulu College kwaNongoma yaqeda khona umatikuletsheni. Ngonyaka we- 1968 yenza i-Diploma in Administration and Law. Yasebenza ngaphansi kukahulumeni waKwaZulu lapho yaphathiswa khona uMnyango wezemiGwaqo nemiSebenzi yoMphakathi njengoNgqongqoshe.
Yashiya ukuba yiLungu lesiShayamthetho KwaZulu ngonyaka we-1978 yabuyela ekhaya KwaXolo yaqhubeka nomsebenzi wayo wobukhosi. INkosi uXolo ibe yisibani endaweni yasoGwini. Ibizikhandla ilwela intuthuko yabantu besizwe sayo. Ngemizamo yakhe kunezikole, imitholampilo, imigwaqo, amasonto, amanzi nogesi esizweni sakwaXolo; lapho intuthuko siyibona ngamehlo khona.
Inkosi uThobigunya Xolo isebenze kakhulu igqugquzela abantu namakhosi ukuba bangene kuKhongolose kanye nakwinhlangano yamaKhosi i-Contralesa. Njengamanye amakhosi ayephumela obala ngomzabalazo ngaleso sikhathi, esingabala kuwo Inkosi uMhlabunzima Maphumulo, Inkosi uXolo nayo yahlukumezeka. Mhla zingama-30 kuZibandlela ngonyaka we-1993 Inkosi yahlaselwa yadutshulwa. Isimo saba sibi kakhulu; kwembulwa kwembeswa, kodwa ngomusa kaNkulunkulu Inkosi yalulama. Yaphoqeleka ukushiya esizweni ngenxa yodlame. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Chief Xolo received his education from Elim Mission and Ntunjambili. He was secretly placed at Greytown under the guardianship of Reverend Gwamanda. He continued with his education at the school of traditional leaders, Bhekuzulu College, at Nongoma, where he completed his matric. In 1968 he did his Diploma in Administration and Law. He was subsequently employed by the KwaZulu government, where he was appointed minister of roads and public works.
In 1978 he resigned from his post as Cabinet Minister in the KwaZulu government and went back home to KwaXolo to resume his traditional leadership responsibilities. He became a prominent and dedicated leader in the Ugu area. As a result of his hard work and dedication, schools, clinics, roads and churches were built and running water and electricity were provided to the KwaXolo tribe. This area is evidently well developed.
Chief Thobigunya Xolo worked tirelessly to encourage ordinary people and traditional leaders to join the ANC and the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa. Like other traditional leaders who were openly dedicated to the struggle at the time, for example Chief Mhlabunzima Maphumulo, Chief Xolo also went through a hard time. On 30 December 1993 he was attacked and shot. His condition was critical; he was very seriously injured, but he recovered by the grace of God. Owing to the political violence of the time he had to leave his tribe.]
Inkosi Xolo assisted in the building of Contralesa structures during the most difficult of times, when many people were opposing it due to its association with the organisation of the people, the ANC. He was one of the pioneers of Contralesa after the death of its president, Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo in KwaZulu-Natal, where he was the long-standing deputy chairperson of Contralesa. Inkosi Xolo was elected to the national executive committee of Contralesa and succeeded Ms Stella Sigcau as the organisation's national director of projects. His responsibility was to promote the involvement of traditional leaders in the development of their people. Later he was elected national treasurer of Contralesa. The Xolo family thanks all the political parties and the leadership of Contralesa, particularly Inkosi Holomisa and Inkosi Nkonyane, who attended the funeral last Saturday.
In 2004 the ANC deployed Inkosi Xolo to serve the people of South Africa as a Member of Parliament in Cape Town. This was in recognition of his role in the struggle for the liberation and emancipation of the people of South Africa. He served as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services in Parliament until 2009. Thereafter he returned to work as a traditional leader of KwaXolo. On 13 February 2010 he voluntarily retired because of ill health. As we all know, he suffered from diabetes. He handed over power to his eldest son, Malusi Xolo, who unfortunately passed away in March last year. Once more, Nkosi Xolo appointed his son, Mxolisi, to lead the KwaXolo tribe.
Nkosi Xolo was a staunch member of the Lutheran Church of South Africa. In his tribe, he donated sites and encouraged different congregations to build their places of worship there. He was an active member in his church and served as chairperson of the Durban district's youth wing, uDodana. Even here in Parliament he never missed the worship sessions.
Inkosi Xolo obtained the following achievements: He was chief prefect at Bhekuzulu College; in 1997 he received an award for his role in people organisation and nation-building; in 2002 he received an attestation of pilgrimage; he was acknowledged for his role in the development of legislation and the management of traditional leaders; and in 2006 he was awarded the title of Ambassador of Peace.
The ANC, the Xolo family and the whole nation has lost a true leader. As others have said, UbeyiNkosi yoxolo nentuthuko yabantu bonke. [He was a traditional leader who stood for peace and development for all.]
He was a staunch Christian who ensured that every meeting he attended was opened and closed with prayer. He was a progressive leader who understood how and when to hand over power. He never fought for a position of power, but he was a servant of the people who was ready to be deployed and redeployed. As a Parliament of the people, we are saying ...
Lala kahle Dunywa kaNontshuntsha, Ntamonde, Msuthu, Mthusi, Xolo kaDakhile. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.][Rest in peace Dunywa kaNontshuntsha, Ntamonde, Msuthu, Mthusi, Xolo kaDakhile [Rest in peace ... clan names]. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Debate concluded.
Motion agreed to, all members standing.