Africa-Press – South-Africa. KwaZulu-Natal leader of government business and transport MEC Siboniso Duma has described the late ambassador Nathi Mthethwa as a “son of the soil” who inspired generations.
Duma was among the senior ANC leaders, provincial government officials and traditional leaders in his home province who joined Mthethwa’s family to welcome the return of the late diplomat’s remains from France during a formal reception at the King Shaka International airport in Durban on Friday.
Mthethwa, 58, died in Paris on September 30 under circumstances that are still subject to official investigation.
Duma described Mthethwa as one of the finest leaders to emerge from the province’s youth structures and represent the country internationally.
“You were a gallant fighter, an octagon of excellence, the finest and the rarest breed ever produced in the ANC Youth League,” he said.
“To us you will remain one of the rare breed in the province who excelled even at an international scope and we’re glad and delighted that even in the province of KZN we also realised the same.”
He said Mthethwa showed, through his leadership style, that he was a product of principled upbringing nurtured by his late father Magumbi Mthethwa and mother Zanele Zondi-Mthethwa.
“His parents moulded him at a very young age in KweSakwaMthethwa in KwaMbonambi to use these values as instruments to create strong relationships needed to build a prosperous South Africa,” Duma said.
“Critically, his father, a hardworking nurse, inculcated in him a culture of selflessness. He taught him to use public office to render efficient services that reflect pride in being offered the opportunity to serve the people.”
Reflecting on Mthethwa’s early activism days, Duma referenced an address Mthethwa — who was 20 years old at the time — made to a crowd of more than 100 people in Klaarwater township in Durban while opposing undemocratic councillors and calling for an end to oppression.
Mthethwa had said: “This is our township, therefore we must be allowed to elect leaders of our choice. We must be allowed to identify, from our own community, leaders who will lead us to ensure socioeconomic development of our area.”
Duma said that speech, 38 years ago, was one of the pivotal moments that had shaped Mthethwa’s willingness to fight against unjust policies and for a non-racial society.
“Undemocratically elected councillors, who supported rampant rent increases in underdeveloped townships, propelled comrade Mthethwa to mobilise the community to confront head-on the inhuman and brutal system of apartheid,” Duma said.
Veteran ANC leader and the party’s provincial convenor Jeff Radebe reflected on meeting Mthethwa for the first time. Mthethwa was at that stage involved in the ANC’s underground structures during the final years of apartheid.
“He played a pivotal role in the struggle for freedom and justice. He was a brave man. When I first met him in 1990, he was part of those militant youth of southern Natal and was prepared to lay down his life in order to liberate our people.”
ANC deputy secretary-general and minister in the presidency for planning, monitoring and evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa said she was part of a generation of the ANC youth leaders that Mthethwa mentored.
“He encouraged and reminded us all the time that whatever was happening in the country, we must lead from the front and never give up. Even if one of us falls, we must pick ourselves up and continue running the race. We are actually going to do that.”
She added that Mthethwa not only excelled as an ANC leader but also played a meaningful role in all the portfolios he led in the national government.
Mthethwa’s body was transported to a mortuary in Empangeni. He will be laid to rest at his homestead in KwaMbonambi near Empangeni after a category 2 special official funeral on Sunday.
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