SACP conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to family of anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Professor Renfrew Leslie Christie
SACP Communications
South African Communist Party
SACP conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to family of anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Professor Renfrew Leslie Christie
Thursday, 25 December 2025: - The South African Communist Party (SACP) conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Professor Renfrew Leslie Christie, 76, who gave his life to the service of the freedom loving people of South Africa till he breathed his last on 21 December.
The SACP also sends its condolences message to the entire liberation movement and the people of South Africa for the loss.
Renowned as a revolutionary intellectual force, Comrade Christie knew from a young age that the apartheid system was a system akin to the Nazi system, inspired by the gallant fights against the Nazis by some of his family members and friends during World War 2. He joined the joint ANC and SACP military wing, uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK), and did everything within his powers to sabotage the formidable racist apartheid regime which was in the process of developing its nuclear weapons programme. His untiring work as an MK underground operative helped to delay the development of the apartheid regime’s nuclear weapons programme by several years.
In 1979, the apartheid security police arrested Comrade Christie, tortured and charged him under the Terrorism Act. They forced him to endure seven months in solitary confinement at the notorious John Vorster Square police headquarters in Johannesburg, where many liberation fighters were heavily tortured and murdered. During his imprisonment, he witnessed over 300 hangings yet remained resolute in his struggle against the racist apartheid system.
Never at any point in his entire life did he regret his contribution to the struggle for the liberation of the people of South Africa against a system declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations. He knew that his contribution, as well as those of many others, directly contributed to the 1994 democratic breakthrough and the practical social gains made by the people, the majority of whom are the working class and poor.
For Comrade Christie, the fall of apartheid did not translate as an opportunity for him to take the backseat in the development of the country. Joining the University of the Western Cape as dean of research, he helped to build an intellectual home for the progressive forces of our country, particularly underlining the importance of defending the country’s national sovereignty. For his priceless contributions, the Navy honoured him with its highest civilian award.
In paying tribute to Professor Renfrew Leslie Christie, the SACP calls for all the people of South Africa to stand united in defence of the country’s sovereignty, for the right to self-determination. This has become urgent particularly with the advent of incessant political and economic attacks against our country by Donald Trump’s US imperialist government.
Hamba Kahle Mkhonto!