Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today Thursday, 23 June 2011 joins the multitudes of our people across the country in the expression of grief and sorrow on the passing away of former Minister of Education and Water Affairs, Professor Kader Asmal.
“The death of Professor Kader Asmal has indeed left the ranks of the liberation movement, and indeed the rest of the country much poorer. As a nation we grew accustomed to Professor Asmal, an erudite scholar, engage in fierce debates about critical issues affecting our country.
“Yet we knew that Professor Asmal was no armchair critic but a true patriot who spent his life in the just struggle for peace, freedom and democracy. He contributed immensely to the development of our constitutional model hailed as among the best in the world.
“Those of us who have had the privilige of serving with Professor Asmal in various capacities both in the government and structures of the ruling party both at home and abroad including would attest to his burning desire and commitment to the betterment of the lives of all our people, irrespective of race, colour, gender of religious beliefs.
“The tears of the nation have hardly dried following the passing away of that stalwart of our people MaSisulu, than we are confronted with this massive blow to our body politic. However, we know too well that Professor Asmal would have drawn solace from the knowledge that South Africa has the capacity to reproduce leaders of the calibre required to continue to build a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic society without fear or favour
“In his memory and as a nation we owe it to Professor Asmal to continue to serve our people, unflinchingly and without seeking financial or material reward in the cause of deepening our democracy while remaining true to the values that he espoused throughout his life in the struggle for a better South Africa.
“It is our hope that the thoughts and prayers of the nation will indeed during this hour of grief reach out to his wife Louise, the two children, grandchildren and members of his broader family, fully cognisant that their pain, sorrow and bereavement is shared by millions of people in the country, the region and beyond.
“On behalf of the department of Home Affairs and indeed on my own behalf, we join the nation in extending our heartfelt condolences to the entire Asmal family,” concluded Minister Dlamini Zuma.
