10 November 2008
The SACP wishes to join the millions of our compratriots, our African brothers and sisters, and indeed the world in expressing our condolences on the passing away of one of the greatest musicians of our times, Miriam `Mama Afrika` Makeba. This is indeed a sad loss for our country, our continent and the world as a whole.
To lose such an icon of human rights and dignity, a stalwart of our own struggle who chose to communicate the plight of our people through great lyrics has left a great void in the hearts of many.
We remain indebted to Mama Afrika and many of her counterparts who joined the struggle for the liberation of our people when it was not easy to do so. She used her voice everywhere she went to propagate for a fair world order.
Mama Afrika was very passionate about our democracy and did a lot of work to nurture young artists and girls in our country. In her honour we must strengthen and deepen our democracy. In her memory, we must continue with a national dialogue to promote and protect the South African cultural heritage and performing arts and engage all of our artists to use their talents to tell the South African story of heroic struggles, sacrifices, nation building and transformation of our society from apartheid to a non-racial, non sexist and democratic society.
In her honour, we need to intensify the struggle to eliminate all forms of oppression and discrimination against women and girls, especially to defeat the scourge of violence against women and girls in our society.
Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and the South African people as a whole.
Issued by the SACP.