YCLSA MOURNS THE PASSING OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT OFPUDEMO COMRADE MARIO MASUKU
Dloze Matooane
Young Communist League of South Africa
Press Statement, 12 January 2020
YCLSA MOURNS THE PASSING OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF PUDEMO COMRADE MARIO MASUKU
The Young Communist League of South Africa [uFasimba] has learned with great sadness, the passing of Comrade Mario Masuku, the long serving President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). Comrade Mario Masuku is known to be an outstanding, fearless and relentless activist, an intellectual and a leader par excellence.
Comrade Mario Masuku was the founder of the Swaziland Union of Financial and Allied Workers (SUFIAW), an affiliate of Swaziland’s largest trade union federation, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). He was a committed and rare working-class activist at all times, leading from the front during difficult times.
During the transition from the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFT) to the formation of TUCOSWA, Comrade Mario Masuku was amongst those who played a fundamental role to ensure the transition. The formation of TUCOSWA was as a result of unifying all trade union federations in Swaziland into one trade union federation.
A product of working-class struggles born in the Southern part of Swaziland in 1951. He was a former soccer player and administrator of the Swazi soccer giants, Mbabane Highlands FC.
He is one of the founding members of PUDEMO and the first President of Swaziland’s liberation movement.
Former President Mario Masuku played an outstanding role in the evolution of the people’s revolution for democracy and social justice in Swaziland, and he is amongst the key figures that contributed immensely to the growth and development of PUDEMO. He led PUDEMO from the underground between 1983 and 1990, actively building an organ of political consciousness in advancing the people’s struggle. Part of his contribution to PUDEMO was building mass democratic underground structures.
Under his leadership, the COSATU National Congress took a resolution to lobby the ANC government to offer PUDEMO diplomatic status. The active participation, dedication and commitment of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and uFasimba in the struggle for democracy against the atrocious regime in Swaziland, especially the formation of the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), is as a result of dedicated and committed activists both in the SACP and in Swaziland, of which Comrade Mario Masuku is part of such a caliber of rare activists.
The atrocious regime has arrested, charged and detained Comrade Mario Masuku on many occasions. This is precisely because he confronted the evil regime whenever activists were arrested, or even when civilians were killed merely for wearing political party t-shirt. His activism exposed the regime as he was arrested on many occasions without any form of charge apart from being an activist.
In recognition of his bold activism and great leadership, the Danish parliament conferred on him the Prestigious Danish Democracy Award on the 15th of March in 2010, of which he was the first recipient of such an award. He is also a recipient of POPCRU’s Gregory Rockman Award – the most prestigious award presented in recognition and appreciation of the most distinguished excellent and loyal service rendered by individuals or collectives to the struggle for social justice.
“We have lost an internationalist, a patriot and people's person. Despite the torture he faced under the brutal and tyrant Mswati regime, he never sold the people's struggle. Condolences to the Masuku family, PUDEMO and people of Eswatini” – YCLSA National Secretary, Comrade Tinyiko Ntini.
In his memory, the YCLSA will be part of intensified efforts and commitment to fight Mswati’s evil regime relentlessly, and to install democracy in Swaziland. Comrade Mario Masuku was at the forefront of the people’s struggle which led to extreme torture on him by the evil regime. The torture contributed immensely to his ill-health which led to his retirement in 2017.
The Young Communist League of South Africa [uFasimba] conveys its deepest condolences to his family, PUDEMO, SWAYOCO, TUCOSWA, SUFIAW, SSN, Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) and the people of Swaziland.
Issued by the Young Communist League of South Africa [uFasimba]
Dloze Matooane
National Spokesperson
066 570 3902
Whatsapp: 0826920127
Email: dmdma...@gmail.com
Dineo Mokoena
Media and Liaison
073 969 8532