Chairperson, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the disappearance of Comrade Stanza Bopape. This patriot of unsurpassed courage and a fighter for freedom disappeared in the prime of his life.
The ANC also pays tribute to many other comrades and patriots who lost their lives 20 years ago for the cause of freedom, including Dulcie September, Sebolelo Mohajane, Johny Makatini, Benedict Moshoke, John Motshabi, Irene Mkwayi, Hector Nkula, Michael Lucas, Sicelo Dhlomo and John Gaitsiwe, to mention but a few. These are the heroes and heroines to whom we as people are eternally indebted.
The loss of these patriots was a moment of great sadness in our nation's history. This 20th anniversary reminds us of the courage and heroism that led to the birth of our democratic order and inspires us to intensify the effort to build the kind of society for which they so bravely fought and paid the ultimate price.