Premier David Makhura’s eulogy at the funeral service of Comrade Reggie Vandeyar, Lenasia Civic Centre
Our Programme Directors, MEC mayathula-Khoza and Mr Shan Balton;
Mama Assoo, Brother Karuna and Sister Sushila;
Relatives, Friends and Comrades of Uncle Reggie Vandeyar; Deputy Secretary General of the ANC, Cde Jessie Duarte; Isithwalandwe/Seaparankoe Comrade Ahmed Kathrada, Veterans of the Struggle;
Former Ministers, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament;
MECs,
Mayors,
MPLs and Councillors;
Leadership of the Movement and Alliance;
Comrades and compatriots.
Fellow mourners.
Today we have come together here at Lenasia to bid our final and fond farewell to our dear compatriot, Uncle Reggie Vandeyar. We bring our heartfelt condolences to Auntie Assoo and the rest of the family.
Quite understandably, we gather here with mixed emotions. The deep sense of sadness and collective grief about Uncle Reggie’s mortal departure is punctuated by an atmosphere of deep gratitude and celebration of his exemplary life and inspiring legacy.
Yes, as we mourn his passing, we also pay our debt of gratitude to Uncle Reggie and the Vandeyar for the sacrifices and sterling contributions they have made to the most sacred and most sublime of all causes, the liberation of humankind.
With the passing of this humble servant of the people, we feel what Nehru would have felt about Ghandi’s passing: “the sun that warmed and brightened our lives has set, and we shiver in the cold and in the dark”.
If we shiver in the cold and the dark, it is because Uncle Reggie’s life is a rich tapestry of the best attributes of that special generation of freedom fighters to which he belonged - total devotion to the struggle for the liberation; unflinching commitment to principle; loyal and selfless service to the cause of the people; humility and simplicity; bravery and discipline; courage and conviction; love and compassion for the people, especially the working class and the poor.
Driven by the desire for justice, freedom and democracy, he was part of every key development and organisation of the people over a period spanning three generations – the Young Communist League in the 1940s, the Transvaal Indian Congress, the Communist Party and mobilising towards the Congress of the
People in the 1950s, first generation of MK cadres in the early 1960s; the revival of the Congress movement in the 1970s and the formation of the UDF in the 1980s and the process to find a peaceful and negotiated path to democracy in the early 1990s.
Compatriots and fellow mourners, here lies a man of impeccable integrity and immeasurable to freedom, justice and equality. A man who sacrificed and consequently suffered in pursuit of the dream of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
The Preamble of our Constitution of the Republic of South Africa enjoins us to recognise the injustices of the past; honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land and respect those who have worked to build and develop our country, because South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
It is against this background that President Jacob Zuma has granted Uncle Reggie Vandeyar a special provincial official funeral. We thank our President for considering our request favorably. He would have loved to be here but due to the National Executive Committee (NEC) lekgotla, he couldn't make it. He sent the Deputy Sectretary General (DSG), Comrade Jessie Duarte to be here to attend the funeral and personally convey his condolences to the family.
A special provincial official funeral is reserved for men and women who have made a distinctly remarkable contribution to the wellbeing of our society, in all facets of life.
As the Gauteng Provincial Government, we are working hard, together with national and local government, to preserve and promote an inclusive and balanced narrative about our complex history and heritage.
We don’t agree with the destruction of the symbols and monuments of apartheid and colonialism. They represent an important part of our collective heritage and must be preserved alongside new symbols and monuments that represent our road to freedom and democracy.
It is for this reason that, last week, we launched the National Heritage Monument in Tshwane. When it is complete, the monument will tell the full story of the many sacrifices and suffering that brought about our democracy. It will tell the story that freedom was indeed not free.
The name of Reggie Vandeyar belongs to the galaxy of exceptional men and women who, through their dedication and discipline, rose from humble beginnings to make an indelible mark in our nation’s collective consciousness and helped to shape our country’s democratic destiny.
Cde Reggie is no more but his fighting spirit will live among us forever. The family has lost a loving husband and father, brother and uncle. The nation has lost a leader of distinction and a patriot par excellence.
We, who remain behind, bear the onerous responsibility to emulate the powerful force of example that Comrade Reggie Vandeyar’s life represent.
The best and lasting monument we can ever erect for Comrade Reggie Vandeyar is to build a South Africa envisioned in the Freedom Charter; a South Africa free from the perilous evils of racism, sexism, inequality, poverty, hunger, greed and corruption.
Let us continue to work for a dream of a truly non-racial, non-sexist, united, democratic and prosperous society. This is what Uncle Reggie would have done.
We have the responsibility to fight the persistent development challenges facing our society – resurgence of racism, inequality, poverty, hunger, unemployment and drugs - wherever they manifest themselves. This is what Uncle Reggie would have done.
As we focused on redressing the development backlogs in the African townships, we made a mistake of neglecting the poor in the Indian and Coloured communities. We have to correct this urgently because it is undermining our non-racial traditions and reigniting sentiments and perceptions of racism. Let us have the courage of Uncle Reggie to admit and correct our mistakes.
Let us summon the courage of Uncle Reggie to confront the perils of corruption, greed and sheer incompetence that severely undermine the major achievements of the first two decades of democracy.
Uncle Reggie would want us to build a competent and clean government and promote integrity in public office and business practices.
Let us work hard to revitalise the infrastructure of our townships and ensure that they vibrant centres of economic, cultural, educational and social life. Let us summon the bravery and organisational skills of Uncle Reggie as we fight crime in our communities.
Let us summon the compassion of Uncle Reggie as we transform, modernise and re-industrialise our economy to build a more inclusive and equitable economic system that will meet the needs of all the people of South Africa.
Let us never tire to engage society and mobilise ordinary members of the community to solve their problems. We must never be tempted to substitute the people with state bureaucracy. We must never allow political patronage and factional tendencies to take the place of grassroots participation and developmental activism.
Let us thank Mama Assoo, Karuna, Sishula and the entire family for sharing Uncle Reggie with the movement and the nation. You are one of the families that have earned themselves a pride of place which is sacred and eternal roll call of those who fought for freedom. We will never forget you.
Hamba Kahle Mkhonto! Aluta continua!
Thank you!
