OBITUARY - DAVID MODIMOENG

DAVID MODIMOENG’S FUNERALS – OUKASIE/BRITS – 27/09/2008
Speech of former Oukasie and National YCW Chaplain – Jean Marie Dumortier

Thank you Mr. Chairman,
Many thanks to David’s family,
To all his friends and comrades,
To my fellow former YCW members,
To all Oukasie residents gathered in this hall today…

Thank you for allowing me to be here with you in these rather sad circumstances to take part in this celebration, pay tribute and bid farewell to our old friend and comrade, David Modimoeng

As many of you know it, I first met David almost 30 years ago, in the early 80s when he joined the starting Young Christian Workers group, here, in Oukasie.

In my heart David is associated for ever with this handful of young people who bravely responded to the call of the SAYCW to stand up, unite and fight for their rights and dignity as young workers.

We all know, here in Oukasie, that this small group of young militants was at the starting point of the Trade Union in this area, and of the organization of the old location’s residents which eventually forced the Apartheid regime to bow down and withdraw its order of forced removal – I suppose I still have somewhere one of these T.shirts claiming proudly “Oukasie – We are here to stay!”. Yes, Oukasie is still here, and it is what it is today because of people like David.

I do not have to explain to you that it was, as a book put it recently, a different time, and a pretty tough time indeed. I would just like today to recall the memory of Joyce Modimoeng, David’s wife, who was killed by the “system” in the bombing of their bedroom in 1985, while David himself managed to survive with serious injuries. I feel appropriate to remember and associate this young lady to the tribute we pay today to her husband. I still vividly remember us gathered here for Joyce’s funeral, with the police surrounding us all over. We learned, that very same day, that the government had declared a “State of Emergency” which eventually was to be renewed for 5 years. In fact a number of militants who attended Joyce’s funeral that day were arrested on the spot. Some of them are with us today. Yes, it was a different time…

I am sad to see people like David leaving us, and, with them, to see part of this militant generation that brought freedom and democracy to South Africa disappear, particularly this generation of militants who took part in the re-building of the Trade Union in our country. I want today to pay tribute to this group of young people who joined the YCW in Oukasie together with David and managed to launch the Trade Union in Brits, to the surprise of the officials of the emerging Trade Union in Pretoria, who could not believe that they would ever be able to extend their organization that far, in such a remote area.

Allow me to name some of these pioneers: Hlokoza Motau, Sello Ramakobye, Moshe Mahlaela, Peter Dantjie, Solly, Malasba, Jacob Moatshe, Mokwalakwala, Lekoba Modimoeng and all the others who followed suit along the years… Those are the people who built the Union, here in Brits. They did it in an extremely difficult environment, nearly without any support, but from their own youth movement, the YCW. Starting from the mere realities they were experiencing in their workplaces, identifying the targets they could reach and making careful strategies to achieve their goals, according to the “See-Judge-Act” method of their movement…

It was a fascinating time, a time when the Trade Union was shaping itself from scratch, from the bottom, I mean from the workplace, workshop by workshop, factory by factory – in fact worker by worker – to finally unite them and force the managements to recognize the organization their workforce had patiently and secretly developed. Brits was part of this worker history, through the likes of David and his fellow YCW leaders: in Alfa, Femco, BNS, Chubb Fire, Firestone… Step by step workers were setting their Union, first MAWU and FOSATU, then, later on, NUMSA and COSATU. Those Unions belonged to the workers, they were theirs; workers had built them through their own commitment and sacrifices – nearly one year strike in BNS! – they were workers’ organizations, proudly autonomous, free from any foreign interference. It was a time when the SAYCW was running a campaign on “workers’ democracy” whatever the risks they may face of being called “workerists” as some would by then label them.

Meanwhile David’s YCW group was also responding to issues affecting the community, gathering residents around them in successive committees. I remember for example a “Lodger’s permit committee”, them a “Joint parents’ committee”, and again a “Brits action committee” which, I believe, gave birth to the “Oukasie Development Trust”. Doing so, they were not only preparing themselves to resist victoriously the forced removal orders that the Apartheid regime issued against their location, but they were also taking part in the development of the strong and multiple civil society which allowed South Africa to reach a state of true democracy – unlike many other African countries which gained independence through the arm struggle and found their people under the rule of dictators who were the very ones who were supposed to liberate them, but have now the power of the guns.

Yes, I am sad to see people like David, who have taken part in this glorious chapter of the South African workers’ history, leave us too soon.

I want to believe that what he fought for, with so many other South African workers, will live on and that your heritage will not vanish. Yes, I am sad to let you go today. You fought for Truth, Justice, Freedom and Solidarity. Long ago, in the Bible, people who were fighting for these very things were called “Prophets”. All along your life, through your commitment to your fellow workers you have followed in their footstep. I trust that the spirit which motivated them, and you, is greater than you and me. I do believe that this Spirit of Justice and Solidarity cannot ever die and is already somewhere among us preparing a new generation of people who will help us proceed towards the Kingdom of Justice and Love we have been longing for. David, for the last time let me sing by your side one of these songs we often song during our YCW meetings;

All over the world the Spirit is moving
All over the world, as the prophet said it would be
All over the world, there is a mighty revelation
Of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

Deep down in my heart, the Spirit is moving
Deep down in my heart, as the prophet said it would be
Deep down in my heart, there is a mighty revelation
Of the coming of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

Right here in this place, the Spririt is moving
Right here in this place, as the prophet said it would be
Right here in this place, there is a mighty revelation
Of the power of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

Rest in peace Comrade David, we will meet again, up there!

TRIBUTE

DAVID MODIMOENG’S FUNERALS – OUKASIE/BRITS – 27/09/2008


Speech of former Oukasie and National YCW Chaplain – Jean Marie Dumortier


Thank you Mr. Chairman,
Many thanks to David’s family,
To all his friends and comrades,
To my fellow former YCW members,
To all Oukasie residents gathered in this hall today…

Thank you for allowing me to be here with you in these rather sad circumstances to take part in this celebration, pay tribute and bid farewell to our old friend and comrade, David Modimoeng

As many of you know it, I first met David almost 30 years ago, in the early 80s when he joined the starting Young Christian Workers group, here, in Oukasie.

In my heart David is associated for ever with this handful of young people who bravely responded to the call of the SAYCW to stand up, unite and fight for their rights and dignity as young workers.

We all know, here in Oukasie, that this small group of young militants was at the starting point of the Trade Union in this area, and of the organization of the old location’s residents which eventually forced the Apartheid regime to bow down and withdraw its order of forced removal – I suppose I still have somewhere one of these T.shirts claiming proudly “Oukasie – We are here to stay!”. Yes, Oukasie is still here, and it is what it is today because of people like David.

I do not have to explain to you that it was, as a book put it recently, a different time, and a pretty tough time indeed. I would just like today to recall the memory of Joyce Modimoeng, David’s wife, who was killed by the “system” in the bombing of their bedroom in 1985, while David himself managed to survive with serious injuries. I feel appropriate to remember and associate this young lady to the tribute we pay today to her husband. I still vividly remember us gathered here for Joyce’s funeral, with the police surrounding us all over. We learned, that very same day, that the government had declared a “State of Emergency” which eventually was to be renewed for 5 years. In fact a number of militants who attended Joyce’s funeral that day were arrested on the spot. Some of them are with us today. Yes, it was a different time…


I am sad to see people like David leaving us, and, with them, to see part of this militant generation that brought freedom and democracy to South Africa disappear, particularly this generation of militants who took part in the re-building of the Trade Union in our country. I want today to pay tribute to this group of young people who joined the YCW in Oukasie together with David and managed to launch the Trade Union in Brits, to the surprise of the officials of the emerging Trade Union in Pretoria, who could not believe that they would ever be able to extend their organization that far, in such a remote area.

Allow me to name some of these pioneers: Hlokoza Motau, Sello Ramakobye, Moshe Mahlaela, Peter Dantjie, Solly, Malasba, Jacob Moatshe, Mokwalakwala, Lekoba Modimoeng and all the others who followed suit along the years… Those are the people who built the Union, here in Brits. They did it in an extremely difficult environment, nearly without any support, but from their own youth movement, the YCW. Starting from the mere realities they were experiencing in their workplaces, identifying the targets they could reach and making careful strategies to achieve their goals, according to the “See-Judge-Act” method of their movement…

It was a fascinating time, a time when the Trade Union was shaping itself from scratch, from the bottom, I mean from the workplace, workshop by workshop, factory by factory – in fact worker by worker – to finally unite them and force the managements to recognize the organization their workforce had patiently and secretly developed. Brits was part of this worker history, through the likes of David and his fellow YCW leaders: in Alfa, Femco, BNS, Chubb Fire, Firestone… Step by step workers were setting their Union, first MAWU and FOSATU, then, later on, NUMSA and COSATU. Those Unions belonged to the workers, they were theirs; workers had built them through their own commitment and sacrifices – nearly one year strike in BNS! – they were workers’ organizations, proudly autonomous, free from any foreign interference. It was a time when the SAYCW was running a campaign on “workers’ democracy” whatever the risks they may face of being called “workerists” as some would by then label them.

Meanwhile David’s YCW group was also responding to issues affecting the community, gathering residents around them in successive committees. I remember for example a “Lodger’s permit committee”, them a “Joint parents’ committee”, and again a “Brits action committee” which, I believe, gave birth to the “Oukasie Development Trust”. Doing so, they were not only preparing themselves to resist victoriously the forced removal orders that the Apartheid regime issued against their location, but they were also taking part in the development of the strong and multiple civil society which allowed South Africa to reach a state of true democracy – unlike many other African countries which gained independence through the arm struggle and found their people under the rule of dictators who were the very ones who were supposed to liberate them, but have now the power of the guns.

Yes, I am sad to see people like David, who have taken part in this glorious chapter of the South African workers’ history, leave us too soon.

I want to believe that what he fought for, with so many other South African workers, will live on and that your heritage will not vanish. Yes, I am sad to let you go today. You fought for Truth, Justice, Freedom and Solidarity. Long ago, in the Bible, people who were fighting for these very things were called “Prophets”. All along your life, through your commitment to your fellow workers you have followed in their footstep. I trust that the spirit which motivated them, and you, is greater than you and me. I do believe that this Spirit of Justice and Solidarity cannot ever die and is already somewhere among us preparing a new generation of people who will help us proceed towards the Kingdom of Justice and Love we have been longing for. David, for the last time let me sing by your side one of these songs we often song during our YCW meetings;

All over the world the Spirit is moving
All over the world, as the prophet said it would be
All over the world, there is a mighty revelation
Of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

Deep down in my heart, the Spirit is moving
Deep down in my heart, as the prophet said it would be
Deep down in my heart, there is a mighty revelation
Of the coming of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

Right here in this place, the Spririt is moving
Right here in this place, as the prophet said it would be
Right here in this place, there is a mighty revelation
Of the power of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

Rest in peace Comrade David, we will meet again, up there!

TRIBUTE

TRIBUTE (1)

Speech by President Nelson Mandela

Speech by President Nelson Mandela during the opening ceremony of the Young Christian Workers World Council
Oukasie, 26 November 1995

Dear Chairperson;
Delegates and friends,

It is indeed a great privilege for me to be present at the Official Opening Ceremony of the YCW World Council. It is a special pleasure to associate myself with the Young Christian Workers' long record of standing up against injustice throughout the world, including South Africa.

You are all most welcome in South Africa, and we are honoured that you have chosen our country as the venue for your meeting.

Your decision to hold your Council here in the small and poverty-stricken community of Oukasie speaks louder than mere words. Once more you are demonstrating in a practical way that a true commitment to justice demands more than good intentions and fine speeches. It calls for a full association with those who are struggling for justice.

Oukasie's long struggle for survival against some of the most vicious onslaughts of the apartheid regime, is renowned. After every attack the residents of Oukasie reorganised themselves and sustained their resistance to forced removals.

As part of their struggle, the formed partnerships with Anti-Apartheid organisations throughout the world. Oukasie became a symbol of the power of community resistance assisted by international solidarity. Eventually the apartheid regime retreated and the people of Oukasie were victorious.

I recall this history because it is speaks of everything that Young Christian Workers stand for. One of the YCW's most important characteristics is that it situates itself within the social realities of people, especially young workers, and places strong emphasis on effective organisation.

Our decades of struggle, outside and inside prison, taught us that the most important tool of resistance is proper organisation. No matter how unequal the situation, if the people are committed and well organised then not even the most vicious oppressor can hold them back forever. The people of South African demonstrated that, and I want to thank YCW for your contribution to that wonderful victory.

However, the fight against oppression and injustice did not end with the establishment of our first democratic government. In many ways the struggle for justice is today even more intense and challenging. We still carry many of the rusty old chains of apartheid with us. Every now and then racism still lifts its ugly head. The consequences of years of neglect and exploitation are evident everywhere in the terrible poverty that most South Africans still experience.

Now that we have our political liberty we must also gain our socio-economic liberty and freedom from hunger, ignorance and disease. This is a struggle for reconstruction and delivery, and working together with communities to assist them to help themselves to build a better life.

In this huge enterprise the experience of YCW will be very important. YCW was founded with the specific aim that the Church should respond to the needs of workers, but not as charity where the workers are passive recipients of aid. Rather, the objective was the empowerment of young people from worker families to unlock their own capacity and to empower themselves through proper organisation.

YCW's emphasis on active participation of its members in developing plans to change their lives has proved to have great potential for capacity-building among our youth. It is common knowledge that YCW has made a significant contribution to building the organs of civil society in South Africa, in particular worker organisations. Many of the worker leaders it trained continue to occupy positions of leadership in the trade union movement, in government, in business and in wider civil society.

The youth of South Africa face serious problems because of the years of deprivation, violence and interrupted education. Great courage and commitment will be needed to overcome the obstacles and for our young people to fully enjoy the benefits that our fledgling democracy holds for them.

Religious organisations, especially those which concentrate on the youth, can help bring reconciliation to our country and help us build the Rainbow Nation that most South Africans yearn for. Not so long ago our young people were looking at each other over the barrels of guns. But today they are reaching out to each other to build a common future. This demands emotional maturity and moral strength, and I firmly believe that the various religions can help develop these qualities.

All the major religions teach the importance of peace and reconciliation. But they also insist that with reconciliation must come an end to injustice.

I refer to this challenge of genuine reconciliation because it is a political and moral issue which will gain increasing prominence as our Truth and Reconciliation Commission addresses its difficult task. I also mention it here in Oukasie because of this community's history of suffering. The YCW's approach has always been to acknowledge and challenge injustice, and then to build the capacity of the oppressed to act in a constructive way that will bring an end to injustice and create a better world for all of us.

The youth of South Africa made a crucial contribution to the struggle for liberation, and I have no doubt in my mind that they have what it will take to put the injustices of the past behind them. This will demand exactly the kind of determination for organisation and self-development that YCW stands for. I urge you to continue your work for the development and empowerment of the young people who are members of YCW, and the youth of South Africa in general.

I have often said that South Africa's greatest assert is not our mineral wealth, but our young people. The future of this country depends on you - the young people sitting here. I have always had the greatest confidence that the gains we have made for democracy and justice are safe in your hands; and that you will build South Africa to fulfil its potential to become the great nation that it ought to be.

May God bless the Young Christian Workers in the important work that you are doing!

May you have a good stay in South Africa, and a very successful World Council.

Thank you.

Issued by: Office of the President

Source: The African National Congress -http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1995/sp951126a.html