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Gauteng salutes Kotane and Marks Noni Mokati, Saturday Star, Johannesburg, 7 March 2015 They were men of honour and leaders who endeavoured to unite the ANC and its affiliates. This is how former South African communist leaders Moses Mauwane Kotane and John Beaver Marks were remembered during a memorial service at the Joburg City Hall on Friday. Their remains were repatriated to South Africa from Moscow last week. The leaders, who worked side by side, were instrumental in the formation and structuring of the SA Communist Party, COSATU and the ruling party, defying banning orders which led to both being arrested on various occasions and facing treason charges under the apartheid regime. Speaking on behalf of the family, Sam Kotane lauded his uncle's achievements in a struggle for liberation and thanked the government, saying: "The return of Malume and Uncle JB's remains means the family has come full circle and that the determination and work by Kotane's wife and widow has been fulfilled." Roswyn Marks, Beaver's great grandson, added that it was an honour to speak of legends such as Kotane and Marks, and also thanked the government for its contribution in bringing the two men back home. While many remembered the work of Kotane and Marks, current leaders of the SACP and COSATU could not resist highlighting the challenges facing the tripartite alliance. Honouring the two stalwarts, COSATU president S'dumo Dlamini said the return of the remains symbolised the opening of a new chapter, and that the trade union federation was working towards regaining unity. He was referring to the in-fighting and the deep divisions the federation had experienced with its affiliates. Dlamini noted that Kotane and Marks were not unsung heroes but individuals whose life's work had been noted and talked about for a long time. SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande also used the platform to address the ructions within COSATU. Nzimande said the party acknowledged the current challenges within the trade union federation, adding that it was the duty of the ANC and SACP to defend and build a strong COSATU. Nzimande warned against factions who were hell-bent on sowing divisions within COSATU. He praised Kotane and Marks, saying that they had played a crucial role in building a progressive trade union movement and had served the tripartite alliance with distinction and honour. "Were they alive, they would be pleased with the progress made by the ANC," he said. In her keynote address, ANC chairwoman Baleka Mbete said it was good that Kotane and Marks's remains had arrived in South Africa at a time when the country was witnessing 21 years of freedom. Mbete said the country needed to know "our history, and teach it to our schools so that our children can know our leaders". She added: "As we welcome them, we say come, see what South Africa without apartheid has become. See what you have struggled for. Make us stronger cadres." She said the ruling party received them back with warmth and much appreciation, and thanked Russia for standing by them. Kotane, born on August 9, 1905 in Tamposstad, near Rustenburg, will be buried at his birthplace on March 14. Marks, born on March 21, 1903, will be buried on March 22 at his birthplace, Ventersdorp. Saturday Star From: http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/gauteng-salutes-kotane-and-ma rks-1.1828582#.VPrx6vmUeD8 -- -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "YCLSA Discussion Forum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
