I move that the House -
1) notes with great sadness the passing of one of the most respected anti-apartheid struggle veterans and ANC Member of Parliament for 20 years, Mr Nelson Diale, on Thursday, 8 January 2015, in the Jane Furse Hospital in Limpopo;
2) further notes that he passed away at a time when the ANC, the party for which he made colossal sacrifices and which he selflessly served for close to 60 years, marked its 103rd year of existence;
3) recalls that Mr Diale joined the ANC in 1956, following the adoption of the Freedom Charter by the Congress of the People in 1955 which he believed represented the vision of a truly united, democratic, nonracial, nonsexist and prosperous South Africa and for which he was ready to lay down his life; 4) further recalls that not only was he one of the heroes who dedicated his life to the battle against the demon of apartheid and racial segregation so that the goals enshrined in the Freedom Charter could be achieved, but throughout his 20 years' parliamentary tenure he tirelessly worked for its practical implementation;
5) remembers that Mr Diale endured police harassment, countless arrests, persecution, torture and banishment due to his activism in the ANC, Umkhonto weSizwe, which he joined in 1962, the SA Communist Party, SACP, and the SA Congress of Trade Unions, Sactu;
6) further remembers that in 1964 he was imprisoned on Robben Island for eight years under the notorious Sabotage and Terrorism Acts, along with fellow combatants such as Peter Magano, Andrew Mashaba, Melifi Makinta and Peter Nchabeleng, all of them legally represented by stalwart Bram Fischer;
7) recognises that among the liberation fighters alongside whom he served on Robben Island, were President Jacob Zuma, Comrades Harry Gwala, Steve Tshwete, Steven Dlamini and Lawrence Phokanoka, and it was during his imprisonment on Robben Island that his political education was developed and internalised;
8) further recognises that not even his torture of eight years, and other harsh conditions which he endured on Robben Island, could break his tenacious and resolute spirit;
9) acknowledges upon his return from prison, and despite his banishment to the homeland of Lebowa and the constant harassment of his family, he continued fearlessly and defiantly to carry out the political programmes of the ANC;
10) further acknowledges that he retired from Parliament in 2014, having served on many committees over the past two decades, most notably -
a) the Portfolio Committees on Correctional Services, Transport, Defence and Military Veterans, as well as Safety and Security; and
b) during the final five years of his parliamentary tenure, he served as a member of the political committee of the ANC parliamentary caucus, a National Executive Committee subcommittee that oversees the ANC's parliamentary work;
11) believes that as a result of his passing, the ANC and the people of South Africa have lost a great fount of knowledge, a foremost intellectual, a struggle giant, a humble revolutionary and a selfless warrior.
The hon Majola. [Interjections.]
Hon Speaker ...
Yes, hon Singh.
I just rise to indicate that the hon Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party did not read subsections 12 and 13 of the draft resolution for the record. Thank you.
Hon Deputy Chief Whip, do you want to finish off the resolution?
Yes.
Take your seat, hon Majola.
Thank you, hon Speaker. I continue -
12) firmly believes that through his contribution great progress has been made in the implementation of the Freedom Charter over the past 20 years; and
13) extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, comrades and the ANC.
Hon Speaker, the DA extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and comrades of uTata Diale. The family has been in our thoughts and prayers and we will continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
UTata Nelson was born on 1 January 1936, at Ga-Masemola in Limpopo where he spent most of his childhood years. He attended school in Sekobetlane Maphutha. In 1952 he left the village for Pretoria in search of employment.
Immediately after stepping off the train, the police arrested him; his crime was that he was not in possession of the hated dompas. The police beat him brutally and he was imprisoned. This was the beginning of a similar brutal treatment that he was to suffer at the hands of the police for most of his life.
He then found work in a hotel as a waiter. He did not enjoy working there as he was harassed by his employer. In 1956, uTata Nelson joined the ANC where he was taught basic political skills. In 1958, he also joined the Domestic Workers Union affiliated to the SA Congress of Trade Unions, Sactu - a workers' movement aligned to the ANC. He was active in the ANC until it was banned in 1960.
In 1960, when the ANC was banned, uTata Nelson was among the first comrades to be recruited to its military wing uMkhonto weSizwe, but he chose to remain inside the country and undergo the training internally.
In January 1964, his unit was arrested and he was tortured and beaten for three months. uTata Nelson was sent to Robben Island where he served an eight-year sentence. It was here that he met political prisoners including President Jacob Zuma.
After his release in 1972, he was banned from organising activities in the community. He then began working underground for the ANC. In 1975, uTata Nelson linked up with the ANC's underground network. He was involved in a clash with the police where two constables were injured.
The entire, then Northern Transvaal, underground network was rounded up and others were sentenced to long prison terms while some, like uTata Nelson, were acquitted and served with internal banning orders.
uTata Nelson later worked with Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in establishing the Sekhukhune Advice Office, a centre which was dedicated to helping activists, victims and their relatives financially and logistically.
After the April 1994 democratic elections, uTata Nelson was elected as a Member of Parliament, MP, representing the ANC. In Parliament he served as a committee member on Portfolio Committees on Defence, Safety and Security and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.
On 27 April 2011, President Jacob Zuma honoured uTata Nelson with the Order of Luthuli in Silver for his selfless contributions and sacrifices to the cause of freedom in this country.
uTata Nelson died on 8 January 2015, in Limpopo province. He died on the weekend as the political party, the ANC, marked their 103 years' anniversary in Cape Town.
He was buried on 18 January 2015, in Sekhukhune village in Limpopo province as one of the most respected anti-apartheid struggle veterans and a former ANC Member of Parliament for 20 years.
Singulo mbutho we-DA siyaphinda sithi wanga umphefumlo wakhe ungalala ngoxolo. [Again as the DA we say, may his soul rest in peace.]
May his soul rest in peace! Thank you, Speaker. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, the EFF would like to express its sincere condolences to Mr Diale's family and friends.
He was born on 1 January 1936 at Ga-Masemola in Limpopo province and he contributed immensely to the development of the people of that province and South Africa at large. He joined the struggle for liberation in 1956 and never looked back since then until he met his death.
He died after having served in this Parliament for many years since he was elected as a Member of Parliament, MP, in the First Democratic Parliament. During his tenure in Parliament, he served on a number of committees including the Portfolio Committees on Defence and Safety and Security.
We learnt that he was a humble man dedicated to his calling as a freedom fighter. On 27 April 2011, the current President awarded him with the National Order of Luthuli in Silver for his excellent contributions to the struggle for democracy. Those who served with him in the previous democratic Parliaments are in a better position to give testimony about his contribution to the South African public and this House.
We should then ask ourselves a question: What is our contribution and value to the people of South Africa to honour such a good comrade? What value are we adding to a society to change the lives of our people for the better? We must agitate for the economic freedom of our people in our lifetime. Political freedom without economic freedom is meaningless. The noblest way in which to honour the departed soul is by selflessly serving the people of South Africa and changing their socioeconomic conditions.
Mr Diale joined the liberation struggle after the Freedom Charter was adopted in Kliptown on 26 June 1955. We believe that it is the democratic principles and values enshrined in the Freedom Charter and the struggle of our people that inspired him to join the struggle.
We are sure that he would have loved to see the implementation of the Freedom Charter to the fullest by the ANC-led government to bring back the dignity of our people, which was since eroded by the apartheid system.
He died not having realised this vision of our country crafted in 1955 by our visionary leaders who were particularly disturbed by the inequalities and racism that existed at that time.
We are quite certain that Mr Diale would have loved to see the inequalities and racism addressed and rooted out within the South African society. Mr Diale, as the activist he was, definitely would have loved to see a society where all have the right to occupy the land whenever they choose. More than 20 years since the attainment of democracy, our people are still landless and are being evicted and thrown off the farms on daily basis. We see on a daily basis our people being subjected to conditions of squalor, particularly in informal settlements.
They do not have access to basic services like water, electricity and proper housing. Many of them live in shacks. Their communities are characterised by serious social ills such as crime, diseases, etc.
The ownership of mineral wealth, banks and industries are still in the hands of the white monopoly capital and our people have gained very little from the democracy which we are talking about today. The ideal of free compulsory and universal education is not yet realised. Many of our children do not have access to tertiary education because of the shortage of space.
The current government has failed dismally to expand opportunities for our children to be absorbed into institutions of higher learning. Those who passed Grade 12 are not absorbed anywhere and they end up getting involved in criminal activities. We are certain that all these conditions, which our people are subjected to, broke his heart. There is currently a lack of leadership that is capable of bringing about the kind of changes that our people want in their lives. This is the visionary leadership that will radically and boldly address the socioeconomic conditions of our people.
Rest in peace, Mr Diale. Amandla! [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, the IFP would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Nelson Diale, who died on 8 January 2015.
Having been a 20-year servant of the people in this House, and almost a 60- year member of the ANC, Mr Diale exemplified courage and his determination in his contributions to the liberation of this country from its apartheid past.
His service in this House allowed him to continue to contribute to the changing landscape of our country. His efforts reflected his desire not only to see our democracy take route, but also our people no longer being marginalised, but truly free in the country of their birth.
The IFP would also like to express its condolences to Mr Diale's political home, the ANC. He truly was a servant of not just the party but of the people.
Lastly, I would like to extend the same condolences to myself personally for having lost not only a neighbour of so many years, but also a true friend and a gentleman. I used to call him "commissar".
Mr Diale, like the late Mr Henry Fazi who was also a member of this House, was always ready to share with me his experiences both as a freedom fighter in the uMkhonto weSizwe and a disciplined cadre of his party. I will always miss those pearls of wisdom that freely flowed from his vast reservoir of knowledge and experience.
Rest in peace, Senator Tata Diale. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, hon members of this House, the NFP takes note, with a deep sense of sadness, of the passing away of the late former Member of Parliament, MP, the hon N L Diale. We wish to place on record our support for the motion of condolence and extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the hon Diale.
We salute him for his life-long commitment to the struggle for justice and equality in our country. We also salute him for being one of the brave people who contributed to the kind of life that we enjoy today in this country. May his soul rest in peace. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, hon members, the UDM extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, the ANC and the friends of the late member of the NA, Letsau Nelson Diale.
The late hon Diale dedicated his life to fighting for freedom for all. The fact that he served the people of this country for no less than 20 years as a Member of Parliament, MP, is a confirmation of his convictions, dedication and commitment to the attainment of freedom for all in South Africa.
We know that his family and comrades have lost what was certainly a source of great wisdom, drawn from practical struggles with the masses of our people, and indeed an important moral compass in life.
Without a doubt, though, the loss comes with so many layers of heartache. We hope the family will find solace in the knowledge that heaven has received one of the most special angels. May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared comfort you now and in future. May God give his family, organisation and friends sufficient strength to bear this loss and give the departed soul a place in heaven.
Take with you the wise words of Orson Scott Card, from his book, Shadow of the Hegemon, and I quote:
Death is not a tragedy to the one who dies; to have wasted the life before that death, that is the tragedy.
May his soul rest in eternal peace. I thank you. [Applause.]
Speaker, ek het vir Nelson in 1994 hier in die Parlement leer ken.
Wat vir my nogal opmerklik was, was dat, ten spyte van ons agtergronde wat aansienlik verskil het, ons op die verdedigingskomitee saamgestem, maar soms ook verskil het. Die besondere eienskap wat Nelson egter gehad het, was dat hy dit altyd met respek en waardigheid gedoen het.
Ek dink hy is 'n voorbeeld van die ou garde wat, hoewel hulle verskil het, mekaar nog steeds met respek en waardigheid kon hanteer. Ek wil eerlikwaar s dat hy sy bydrae gelewer het in die verdedigingskomitee en ek dink sy afsterwe is 'n groot verlies vir die ANC.
Natuurlik, uit die aard van die saak, wil die VF Plus graag sy medelye uitspreek teenoor sy familie, dat hulle 'n geliefde verloor het.
Die uitstaande kenmerk van Nelson was dat hy altyd met my Afrikaans gepraat het. Dit was 'n teken dat as ons mekaar se tale praat, ons ook grense kan oorkom. As 'n medesoldaat wil ek s dat ek hom salueer in terme van dit wat hy gedoen het. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Dr P J GROENEWALD: Speaker, I got to know Nelson in 1994, here at Parliament.
What was quite remarkable to me was that, despite our backgrounds differing significantly, we could agree in the defence committee, yet sometimes also differ. But the remarkable characteristic that Nelson had was that he would always do so with respect and dignity.
I think he was an example of the old guard who, although they could differ, still treated one another with respect and dignity. I want to state truthfully that he made his contribution in the defence committee and I believe that his passing is a big loss to the ANC.
Of course the FF Plus would naturally like to convey its condolences to his family, who have lost a loved one.
The outstanding characteristic of Nelson was that he always spoke to me in Afrikaans. That was an indication that if we could speak each other's language, we could overcome barriers. As a fellow soldier I want to say that I salute him in terms of what he has accomplished. I thank you.]
Hon Speaker, Mr Nelson Diale was a notable veteran of the struggle. From early in his life he experienced police brutality that carried on for many years. Like the other Nelson, he was a big man who took the pain and forgave those who inflicted cruelty on him.
In January 1964, he was arrested, tortured, beaten and sent to Robben Island, where he served an eight-year term. The hardships he suffered only strengthened his resolve to fight and overthrow apartheid.
In Parliament he always stood out as a person of dignity, and when he spoke he did so with authority and humility.
A particular feature of his political life was his readiness to engage with opposition Members of Parliament, MPs, in a constructive and friendly manner. He could always be counted on to take a balanced and considered view - an example to each of us in this NA, as well as to South Africans.
South Africa and Parliament owe a great debt of gratitude to him and to others of his type. They made reconciliation possible and they gave to Parliament the stability to forge our new democracy.
To his family and his loved ones, his friends and his colleagues, we express our deepest condolences. The hon Mr Lekota knew him well and also appreciated his commitment and friendship. May his soul rest in peace. Thank you.
Hon Speaker, the ACDP recently learned of the death of Mr Letsau Nelson Diale, who died on 8 January 2015 in Jane Furse, Limpopo province.
We note that after the April 1994 democratic elections, Mr Diale took office as a Member of Parliament, MP. He served as a committee member on the Portfolio Committees on Defence, Safety and Security and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.
We further note that President Zuma honoured Mr Diale with the Order of Luthuli in Silver in 2011, for his contributions to and sacrifices for the cause of freedom in our country.
We do not know whether or not Mr Diale was ready to meet his Maker, but we do know that death is always sad for those left behind. The ACDP expresses its sincere condolences to his family and friends, his colleagues in the ANC and the communities that he served. Thank you.
Madam Speaker, the AIC would like to pass on its deepest condolences to the family of the hon Diale, and to his organisation, the