24 January 2011
The South African Communist Party dips its red flag in honour of Comrade Johnny Issel who passed away on Sunday 23rd January 2011 in Groote Schuur hospital. Comrade Issel was an outstanding Revolutionary who performed diligent political work as an MK Commander, Trade Unionist, Organiser par excellence, Communist, UDF leader (co-founder) and great political & ideological Commissar. Such has been the contribution of Cde Issel that President Zuma in his February 2009 State of the Nation Address acknowledged Cde Johnny Issel`s role in SASO alongside Steve Biko and others.
Comrade Johnny Issel was responsible for producing, amongst others, gallant MK fighters in the persons of the great combatants of our revolution Ashley Kriel, Anton Frans and many others. In his contribution to defining the Congress tradition, Cde Issel in a 2003 interview clarified the left traditions in the Western Cape as follows:
"There were three major groups on the left. One such group positioned itself at the leadership of the emerging independent trade union movement and held a critical position towards the ANC. Then there were the remnants of the old Unity Movement. Their base was within the non-racial sports movement, a few civic organisations and the municipal workers union. The largest, by far, were those who pledged allegiance to the Congress Movement. They were quite amorphous at the beginning but found greater cohesiveness from the time of Hennie Ferrus` funeral. Tensions in the Congress group were around tactical rather than ideological differences: an example being whether ANC symbols should be displayed at public gatherings. Later tensions were around the popularization of the ANC and recruitment into the armed struggle. These, however, were never of an antagonistic nature. The political culture at the time allowed for differing opinions. Nobody felt threatened by holding a different view. So, when the forces were called to work for the launch, all were united in a single unit."
The SACP shall continue to build on Cde Issel`s selfless sacrifice to work towards the total emancipate the working class and the poor in our society from capitalist slavery, oppression and exploitation. Cde Issel despised crass materialism and accumulation of personal wealth which is threatening the values of our National Democratic Revolution today. Let us pick up Cde Johnny Issel`s spear to advance a Radical Socilaist Oriented NDR.
Throughout his political life comrade Issel remained a staunch and active Marxist Leninist even when he converted to Islam. Today we pay tribute to a great combatant of our people, a courageous warrior and victorious fighter of our liberation struggle, we call on our people particularly in the Western Cape Province, to give him last respect by mobilising our people to register and vote for the ANC led Alliance to win the coming local government elections convincingly for him and many martyrs of our glorious liberation struggle.
On behalf of all our members we extend our deep felt condolences to his family, relatives and friends, and extend a hand of comfort for the pain we all feel. To all revolutionaries we call on them to pick up his spear and fight on until the birth of a Socialist South Africa.
Long live his undying spirit!
Hamba kahle qabane, qawe la maqawe!
Issued by the South African Communist Party
Contact: Comrade Mhlekwa Nxumalo at 072 517 7761
SACP Head Office