/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

An eulogy by Mr. Panyaza Lesufi, MEC for Education in Gauteng Province in honour of the late Attorney, Priscilla Jana, 14th October 2020

Programme Director

Religious Leaders present here

Traditional Leadership

The family and relatives of Cde Priscilla Jana, Shivesh and Tina

Minister of Human Settlements Cde Lindiwe Sisulu

The Deputy Secretary General of the ANC Cde Jessie Duarte

The Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Prof. Bongani Majola

Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu Family and Trust

The Leadership of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation represented here by Cde Shan Bolton

Fellow Mourners

Here we are, once more bidding farewell to those who made it possible for us to be here

Here we are, as children of democracy bidding farewell to the mother of our democracy

Here we are, as custodians of human rights saying our good byes to a human rights activist

Another bright and beautiful shining star has risen to shine from above.

On behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government we join fellow South Africans as well as our alliance partners in lowering our banners for our underground master, a revolutionary, an ambassador , a human rights and freedom fighter, Cde Devikarani Priscilla Jana

We do so knowingly that hers was a race well run

I was just 19 years old when the apartheid regime picked me up from my hiding spot. For three days no one knew where they kept me. It took this brave woman to force the regime to declare my whereabouts after they’ve tortured me. Today, the people’s lawyer, an underground operative, ambassador and a freedom fighter left this world forever. Without her determination the regime was hell bent to harm us and who knows what could have happened to us. 

We owe our lives to this brave women who used their apartheid laws to challenge the apartheid regime

It was on the 6th April 1979, I am told it was around 10 pm in Pretoria. Mme Priscilla Jana was the last person to see Cde Solomon Mahlangu before his execution by the brutal Apartheid Regime. She was Cde Solomon Mahlangu’s Lawyer and He was a freedom fighter and only 22 years old.

When she came out of the Prison, Cde Priscilla Jana said this about Cde Solomon Mahlangu

“ I have never seen a young man so brave, He faced his last moment with courage, determination and without regrets.” She then eloquently delivered Cde Solomon Mahlangu’s famous last words:

“Mama tell my people that I Love them. That they must continue the fight. Tell them that my blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of Freedom.”

Today, as we bid farewell to this brave woman, we should ask where are the fruits of our freedom

Women in our rural areas, who are drinking water with animals, are still yearning for the fruits of our freedom

Farm workers in farms who are brutalized and underpaid are still yearning for the fruits of our

As the body of Priscilla Jana lies in front of us can we can we tell her and other freedom fighters that died that we are not on the verge of betraying the struggle if we have not betrayed it already

• What is it that we, as the ANC we are doing now that our people can be proud of us?
• If not not throwing insults at each other when when our people are going through Covid 19 created poverty and unemployment 
• What is that we, as the ANC we are doing now that our people can be proud of us?
• Unlike Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, Robert Sobukwe, Fatima Meer, Albertina Sisulu, we leaders of today don’t even deserve an inch of a title called leadership 

• We are inward focused when those we should lead are leaderless
• We fight for resources that belong to our people not us
• We are losing the credibility that ur people expect from us
• Thus allowing non starters to take over as leaders of our people

• Those who hate fellow Africans are seen as leaders today
• Those who hate fellow white South Africans are seen as leaders today
• Those who propagate for an enclave called Orania are seen as leaders
• Those who failed as priests are seen as leaders today
• Those who build an Afrikaans only university are seen as better investors

All because the movement of the people, the movement of Priscilla Jana is slowly losing its way

We can’t deny it anymore. The problems of the ANC are harming our beautiful country

Our people are scared and continuously ask themselves, is this the South Africa I want to leave my children with?

We should wake up

Our people may love us but that love is not endless 

The signals are there for us to see

We must not make the government of our people a Spaza shop of the ANC 

And government must also not make the ANC their spaza shop

We can’t continue like this, if we do, we would have betrayed Cde Priscilla Jana an Indian woman who protected us from death

Today, we think Indians are not entitled to the fruits of our freedom 

Today, we think only one race should benefit from the fruits of our freedom

In the mist of the challenges faced by our country maybe we should restate this fact as contained in the Freedom Charter

South Africa belongs to all who live in it, Black and White. We can’t wish each other away instead we should live together

Even though we might have challenges in our movement but our policies and ideological stand remains the best for the South Africa we want. We are for an inclusive South Africa. We are for a South Africa where South Africans can live together side by side. We are for a South Africa that will allow our children not to be reminded how inferior they are but how intelligent they can be. We are for a South Africa for All not they and us.

When we bid farewell to Cde Priscilla Jana lets do so by recommitting ourselves to:

• do good
• Listen to the pleas of our people
• Serve our people better
• Eradicate all wrong thing

But most importantly to protect the ANC

• To protect the ANC doesn’t mean to protect wrong doers
• To protect the ANC doesn’t mean the ANC must not act decisively against those who continue to embarrass us
• To protect the ANC doesn’t mean we must not differ on our strategy and tactics and the current state of our organization 
• To protect the ANC means to protect our country, our communities and our people

As a former Ambassodor to Netherlands and Ireland, the best way to honour this stalwart of our struggle Cde Priscilla Jana , is to reaffirm our solidarity to the world

It’s within this context that today marks the day Africa lost One of Her most respected figures, Julius Kambarage Nyerere (1922 — 1999) He was a politician of principle and intelligence. Known as Mwalimu or teacher he had a vision of education that was rich with possibility

Nyerere’s integrity, ability as a political orator and organizer, and readiness to work with different groupings was a significant factor in independence of Tanzania being achieved without bloodshed.

In his honour, and that of Ambassador Priscilla Jana,

We must openly without fear or favour raise our displeasure to the government of Zimbabwe. Don’t betray Chimurenga. Any government that harms its own citizens and tries to silence differing views through violence that government does deserve our praises instead we must be clear in our condemnation. Don’t betray your own revolution

We must also be openly clear to the regime of eSwatini, it must allow democracy to prosper. Media freedom is part of democracy. Existence of political parties is part of democracy. Existence of trade unions is part of democracy. So, your so called democracy is foreign and unknown. Release, immediately so, those who differs with you and unban all People’s Formations

We must also warn the Lesotho government. The struggle of the People of Western Sahara is our struggle and can not be exchanged by few Malutis. We are worried on how Lesotho is now warming up to the coloniser called Morocco. If Morocco doesn’t recognize Western Sahara there must be no country that should host or entertain Morocco. Morocco must set Western Sahara free not when but now

Our support for the People of Palestine remains our own struggle and there’s no authority that should dictate to us when and how we should support the people of Palestine.

We also join the voices of progressive forces that this year’s Noble Peace Prize must go to the world of Commander Fidel Castro, Cuba for their bravery and solidarity in fighting Covid 19 across the globe.

The solidarity demonstrated by Cuban Doctors in unmatched and unprecedented and for that they deserve the Nobel Peace Prize

As we bid farewell to this giant, lets ensure that her name embraces some of our landmarks like roads , schools and dams

As we bid farewell to Cde Priscilla Jana lets clean our movement. Let’s defend the unity of our Alliance and lets serve our people better

To the family of Cde Priscilla Jana, your daughter was a brave warrior. Be proud to know that she liberated this country and for that we will never forget her she’s now taking her rightful place in the galaxy of freedom fighters

Release her!

Rest In Peace Mkhonto! Mbokodo! The People’s Lawyer. Her Excellency, Ambassador. Hamba Kahle Human Rights Commissioner, A true Patriot

Phumla ngoxolo qhawekazi!

Issued by Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi