16 August 2001
The South African Communist Party (SACP) mourns the passing away of the former defender of the South African National Football Team (Bafana Bafana), Sizwe Motaung, earlier this morning. Sizwe also played for Jomo Cosmos, Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
We express our condolences and sympathy to the Motaung family, the people of Newcastle, and the soccer fraternity in our country and region.
For us, Sizwe like many of his Bafana counterparts represented the struggle against all odds for a better life through the overwhelmingly working class sport of football. Because of his commitment to serve his country through football, he was an inspiration and example to many young people, black and white.
We note with regret his passing away when he was going through a difficult period in his life. In this regard, we appreciate the role played by the soccer fraternity and the general public to support Sizwe. His crisis reflects the general state and conditions of work and life for many football players and performance workers in our country. We call on all soccer players and performance workers to honour Sizwe's memory by fighting for fair working conditions in soccer and the performance industry broadly.
CONTACT
Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel- 011 339 3621
Fax- 011 339 4244
Cell- 083 651 0271
Email- sacp1@wn.apc.org