Cape Town - The South African Communist Party (SACP) and the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape have hailed the contribution of former liberation fighter Siphiwo Nditha who died this week after a year-long hospitalisation.
Nditha, a former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) soldier, was hospitalised following serious injuries he sustained after being attacked at an ANC meeting in the Dullar Omar in Cape Town, and both the SACP and the ANC in the region called on police to continue their investigation into the incident.
Masonwabe Sokoyi, SACP Western Cape provincial spokesperson, said: “As the SACP in the Western Cape, we would like to convey our deepest condolences to Comrade Nditha’s family and friends. To all the Comrades that had the privilege to know and serve with Comrade Siphiwo, we express our solidarity and dip our Red Banner low in this period of remembrance”.
Sokoyi said Nditha was a man “who devoted his life to the liberation of the South African people”, describing his death as having “robbed the movement of one of its loyal servants”.
Faiez Jacobs Western Cape ANC provincial secretary said Nditha, who was also a former deputy chairperson of the ANC branch in Ward 96 and a former secretary of the Albertina Sisulu SACP branch, “was a champion for not only those who loved and cherished our beloved organisation, the ANC, but he was also unwavering in his confidence in the ability of the organisation, the ability of branches of the ANC to lead and influence local community issues, and in this regard, he led by example”.
Noting how Nditha held on to his dignity, regardless of the conditions he was in, Jacobs paid respects to his memory and said Nditha “did not surrender to self-pity and regret”.
He said Nditha continued to embody the ANC values of “love and respect of our movement, patience, hope and the indomitable spirit”.
Sokoyi said: “We call upon the ANC to act against thugs masquerading as activists that have robbed the movement of one of its loyal servants. The ANC must rid this leading formation of our liberation alliance of thugs who are also power hungry. The ANC needs to set an example and ensure justice for Nditha’s family, community and the movement as a whole.”
Jacobs added: “As the ANC, we will not rest until these rouge elements, who seek to take advantage of the openness of our organisation and bring in thuggery.”
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