a trubute to a Bolshevic to the core Nkosiphendule Kolisile by Cde Zico Tamela

[Hastasseimpre]

Tribute delivered by Zeco Tamela at Memorial Service of the late MEC of Economic Development comrade Nkosiphendule Kolisile

On this occasion, we are being painfully reminded of the fact that a true Marxist-Leninist, a Bolshevik, has abruptly stopped doing revolutionary-democratic and communist work. What a great loss to the working class and the toiling masses here at home and internationally! Having cut his political teeth in the National Union of Mineworkrkers as an ordinary member and a shopsteward, comrade Nkosiphendule soon developed into an all-rounded political activist through the South African Communist Party and the Young Communist League of South Africa, enmeshing himself in the political, economic and theoretical struggles of the working class especially at the workplace and the community in which he lived.

As a Member of the Provincial Legislature in Gauteng he demonstrated how communist work should be carried out in bourgeois parliaments by maintaining the closest possible contact with the masses. Among others, he regularly convened workers’ parliaments, strategic sessions with trade unions such as NEHAWU and NUMSA, community organizations and the small business community including the informal sector. He energetically pursued this people-centred and people-driven economic development and upliftment of the workers and the poor even during his short tenure as the MEC for Economic Development. Co-operatives were among the many economic vehicles his department prioritized for a meaningful role of the masses in their struggle for political and socio-economic emancipation from capitalist slavery.

To fully appreciate comrade Nkosiphendle’ s embrace of principled, unwavering and consistent type of communism or what became known as Bolshevism, we have to understand the political and organizational context of his political development. The pursuit of neo-liberalism by the democratic government of the African National Congress was met with strong, albeit, uneven opposition by the working class in this country. Militant social movements emerged in the mid-to-late 90s fighting against the commodification of basic services like water and electricity. In the early 2000s the trade union movement, particularly COSATU and its affiliates rose against privatization of state-owned-enterprises, job-losses, casualisation and other manifestation of neo-liberalism at workplaces.

In these struggles, genuine Marxist-Leninists like comrade Nkosiphendule advocated the following perspective:-

• Unity in struggle among different working class formations, e.g., political parties, social movements and trade unions
• Consistent pursuit of the class struggle up to the conquest of political power by the working class and the establishment of a workers’ government
• Independent contestation of elections by the SACP
• Revolutionary engagement and unity in struggle between socialists within the Congress Movement, including the SACP, and those outside the Congress Movement
• Leadership of the Tri-Partite Alliance by the SACP
• Unconditional support for the struggles of the oppressed internationally
• Unity of the workers and the poor across the globe in the struggle to overthrow capitalism and build socialism

This time-tested communist perspective which has contributed to working class victories in many countries in the world was actually vindicated here in the struggle of Khutsong-Merafong, among others.

For upholding and championing this revolutionary and truly Marxist-Leninist perspective comrade Nkosiphendule and his fellow Bolsheviks were severely persecuted within the SACP. Many comrades were suspended or expelled, various structures were disbanded and unpopular ones imposed. Comrade Nkosiphendule twice faced the wrath of the Party, the second time being suspended for more than a year while holding the position of Chairperson of this Province. As though that was not enough, the current Provincial personnel of the SACP tried to remove the Bolshevik Nkosiphendule as an MPL and even reverse his appointment as an MEC. All genuine democrats, including, us Bolsheviks, highly appreciate and salute the principled stand taken by the leadership of the ANC, including the Office of the Premier, in this Province in firmly standing by comrade Nkosiphendule at such moments. We also say bravo to the democratic capitalists of the Mvelaphanda Group led by comrade Tokyo Sexwale for th their timely and progressive intervention in employing the comrade when he could no longer work at his own Party’ s Head Office. Unfortunately, this good gesture ended his dream of bolstering the ranks of the Treatment Action Campaign and become one of the front-fighters against the scourge of HIV/AIDS.

That this was a true people’ s leader could be seen from the fact that t:-

• The SACP finally came to some rationality and cleared him of the reactionary allegations leveled at him by the Gauteng
• The ANC-West Rand Region recently elected him as its Deputy chairperson
• Even his political opponents are now recognizing his political credentials
• COSATU and its affiliates have actually told the truth about his revolutionary role in advancing the interests of the working class and the poor

As we grudgingly concede defeat against nature and prepare too bid this Bolshevik, this great communist, farewell, we draw strength from the intensifying struggles as well as the ever-expanding theoretical conquests of the working class and all the downtrodden masses at large both in this country and across the globe. We fully appreciate the challenges ahead, now being multiplied by the sudden ad permanent departure of our comrade. Yet, we are very confident of the victory of our class and its allies. Despite all the setbacks, including the wanton waste of human life as happened for example in the early hours of last Saturday, the future of humanity has never been so bright. In calling upon all our forces, particularly the working class vanguard, we to seize the moment and continue the struggle of our fallen comrade we can only echo the co-founder of the communist movement, comrade Karl Marx, who, when addressing the Central Committee of the Communist League in March 18r50, said the battle-cry of the working class should be; ”The revolution in permanence!”

Ngaloo mazwi sithi sonke thina boogxa bakho, intanga zakho, amaqabane akho okwene, HAMAB KAHLE QAQI, MPONDO, MLANDELI OMKHULU WE-MOROKA SWALLOWSBOLSHEVIK FOR LIFE!