Mr Speaker I move:
That the House -
(1) notes with sadness that on Sunday, 9 August 2009, Johannes Phumani "Past Four" Phungula passed away;
(2) further notes that "Past Four", as he was known by his comrades, joined the African National Congress in 1952 and immediately became a volunteer at the height of the defiance campaign while working as a migrant worker at Joko Tea;
(3) recognises that in 1959 hon Phungula was deployed to work in his hometown of Hlokozi to revive political consciousness among the rural communities that had participated in the popular rural struggles and that he was instrumental in mobilising women's protests in iXopo against the draconian pass laws;
(4) recalls that, together with President Jacob Zuma, hon Phungula worked tirelessly recruiting young people to join the African National Congress underground structures;
(5) remembers that in 1976 he left the country on the instructions of his movement, the African National Congress, and upon arrival in exile he was further instructed to go to the then Soviet Union to receive military training, and that on completion of his training he assumed many positions in uMkhonto we Sizwe ranks until his return to South Africa in 1993;
(6) further remembers that in 2004 he was elected to the National Assembly where he remained a member until the end of term of the third democratic Parliament, that "Past Four" had astute leadership qualities and that many of our public representatives were deferring to him for wise counsel;
(7) believes that hon Phungula has discharged his responsibilities with dedication, discipline, diligence and humility and that the life of this great leader epitomises heroism and commitment to the cause of the poor; and
(8) conveys its condolences to the Phungula family and the African National Congress.
Mr Speaker, at moments such as this, we are faced by the two great realities of human life, the promise and possibility of time, and the finiteness of that time.
As human beings one of the greatest gifts we have is the time given to us, and one of the greatest gifts we can give in return is the way in which we use our allotted time. Some fail to make much impression or do much in their time, others make the most of it and leave an impression on the lives of others.
When looking at the life of the hon Phungula, one cannot but realise that he made the most of his gift of time. At a young age he became involved by joining the ANC and the defiance campaign. He left his mark by being instrumental in various protest actions, such as the women's protest against the pass laws and the protests against the reapportioning of land in rural areas.
These activities led to his being arrested and imprisoned, and eventually living in exile where he was deployed in various positions in uMkhonto weSizwe.
On his return he was actively involved in the rural areas, working closely with traditional leaders. During this time and in his involvement in different activities and positions, he distinguished himself as a leader who was characterised by his warm and charismatic personality.
This life of service and dedication culminated in his election to the national Parliament in 2004. Here he served with distinction until April 2009. During his time as a Member of Parliament, he served on the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture and alternatively on the Portfolio Committee on Defence and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence. He also distinguished himself in terms of his leadership skills, honesty, dedication and wisdom. His was thus a life where the time that was given was used to the fullest, not only for the his own advancement but to improve and shape the lives of others.
Through his life of service to his country and its people during the struggle and in the democratic dispensation, he helped to shape his time. We can use the example of his life in our effort to exercise a spirit of service to the community.
The DA extends its heartfelt condolences to his wives, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the ANC. Thank you. [Applause.]
Modulasetulo, ke nka motsotso ona ho tlisa matshediso lelapeng la ntate Phungula le motse wa hae o moholo le lelapa le leholo la hae la ANC, ha kajeno tau e kgolo e wele, ha kajeno sefate se seholo se wetse fatshe. Ntate J P Phungula e ne e le ntate ya hlomphehang eo re neng re sebetsa le yena. Ha ke na ho bua ka hore o tswa hokae hobane mokgatlo wa hae o se o buile hore na o tswa hokae. Empa ho rona ba ileng ba atamelana le yena nako le motsotso, e ne e le ntate ya itlhomphang ya hlomphang le batho bohle. E ne e le motho ya sedi ka dinako tsohle komiting eo a sebetsang ho yona. A re ho leng bohlokwa ke hore batho puong ya bona kapa nthong tseo ba di etsang, ebe ba tlisa phetoho maphelong a ba bang, haholoholo maphelong a batho ba hlophehileng.
E ne ele ntate eo e reng ha ho buuwa are: "sekgowa sena se lokile empa ha se sa tsebe ho arabela bofuma ba batho ha se etse letho". E ne e le ntate eo e neng e re ha re tsamaya le yena ka nakonyana e nyane eo a neng a sebetsa komiting ya Public Works, a re thabise hobane e ne e le motho eo oka mo thabelang haholo ha o tsamaile le yena. Motho wa ditshehiso tse ngata empa o ne are ha ho thuse letho hore tjhelete ya balefi ba lekgetho re e sebedisetse ho theosa re nyolosa re sa tsebe ho etsa seo e leng thomo ya rona Palamenteng.
Ke ntate ya neng a tseba hore ka nako eo a neng a lwana o ne a sa lwanele yena le setjhaba sa hae feela empa o ne a lwanela setjhaba sohle sa Aforika Borwa hore e be karolo ya phetoho ya lefatshe. O ne a tiile ka dinako tsohle nthong eo a e emetseng. One a ka bua ka dintho tse pedi feela, e ne e se motho ya buang haholo empa mantswe a hae a ne a phedisa batho bohle ebile a ne a akaretsa diphetoho tsa rona kaofela mona lefatsheng la Aforika Borwa. Ke a leboha. [Mahofi.] (Translation of Sesotho speech follows.)
[Ms C M P KOTSI: Chairperson, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to Mr Phungula's family, his community and his big family of the ANC, because today the lion has fallen, the big tree has fallen down. Mr J P Phungula was a respected man with whom we worked very well. I will not talk about where he came from because his organisation has already stated this earlier on, but to us who used to be close to him from time to time, he was a self-respecting man who also respected other people. He was always an observant person in any committee he worked for. He always said that what was important was whether what we were saying or doing would bring change in people's lives, especially the poor people.
He used to utter these words when people were discussing matters: "This western culture is good but if it does not respond to the needs of the poor, it becomes useless." When travelling together during the short period that we worked with him in the Portfolio Committee on Public Works, we always enjoyed his company. He had a sense of humour but said that it was not helpful to use taxpayers' money for travelling all over the country without achieving our mandate from Parliament.
He was a man who knew that when he was fighting, he was not only fighting for himself and his community but he was fighting for the whole nation of South Africa to be part of global change. He was always firm in what he stood for. He would only say two things, as he was a man of few words, but his words encouraged everybody and encompassed all the changes in our land of South Africa. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Hon Speaker, on behalf of the IFP and its president, Prince Buthelezi, I wish to join this House in expressing our condolences to the ANC and to the family and friends of Johannes Phumani "Pass Four" Phungula on his untimely passing, earlier this month.
Phungula's premature death speaks directly to our past. It is during our struggle for freedom that my party, the IFP, often referred to our comrades in exile, such as Phungula, as our brothers. We were ridiculed for using this term by organisations such as Jeugkrag. However, our vision and hunger for a free, equal South Africa is what unified the different components of this liberation struggle, helping it to achieve our common goal.
The National Cultural Liberation Movement, from which the IFP was born, had as its aim a multistructural approach, for the freedom of our people and for a united, nonracial, democratic country. This too was the vision of Johannnes Phumani "Pass Four" Phungula. The IFP today honours Phungula as a struggle veteran, a mentor to many South Africans and an honest leader, who served this Parliament and his country with commitment, discipline, dedication and vigour.
Let us not forget that our struggle will only cease once we have ensured a better life for all; once we have reached a point where every human life is valued and crime is not a crisis; once we have overcome HIV/Aids, poverty and corruption; and once we are able to build a society based on strong moral values. Only then will we truly be honouring the great South Africans who came before us.
Izinyanya zakubo zize zimemukele kahle, alale ngokuthula. [May his ancestors give him a warm welcome, may he rest in peace.]
Hon Speaker and hon members, we are gathered once more to undertake the sad duty of bidding farewell to a fellow member of this Parliament, the late hon J P Phungula. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the late Phungula's family, friends and colleagues.
In times such as these it is only the love and support of family that can provide one with comfort. It is only the remembrance of a life well lived that can provide consolation. We hope that part of that remembrance of his family and friends will include the late hon member's contribution to and participation in this institution, and that his having been a part of this democratic institution will give some consolation. On behalf of the UDM and its leader, may his soul rest in peace. Thank you.
Hon Speaker, the ACDP extends its condolences to the family of hon Johannes Phungula who died on 9 August 2009. He played a significant part in mobilising the women's protests against the pass laws in Ixopo in the late 50s, and he was elected to Parliament in 2004.
The ACDP recognises his courageous stand on the Civil Union Bill, as he chose to break ranks with his party and abstain from voting. The ACDP also extends its condolences to the ANC, and, indeed, to you, Mr President, in your absence, understanding that you have lost a friend of nearly 50 years. Thank you.
Thank you, hon Speaker. God made us to live and stay in this world but once and so the passing on of the hon member J P Phungula has been a blow to us and to society. His work in the community and politics will be greatly missed. The UCDP extends its sympathy to everybody who knew and worked with him, especially his bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace. Thank you.
Somlomo, namalungu onke ePhalamende, ngiyanibingelela ngenkulu inhlonipho.
Ubaba uPhungula wazalwa ngomhlaka 15 kuMashi ngo1932, eNhlazuka ngaseRichmond, ezalwa yintombi yakwaShange. Ubeshadile futhi enemakhosikazi amabili. Wajoyina uKhongolose ngo1952 eThekwini lapho aba ngelinye lamavolontiya esebenza kwa-Joko Tea. Kulapho ahlangana khona namalungu agqamile omzabalazo eSACTU, esebenza nobaba uMoses Mabhida, Steven Dlamini nobaba uMtshali okhona la kuleNdlu.
Wagqugquzela amakhosikazi ekulweni nomzabalazo wamapasi obandlululo kanti futhi wayebalulekile emkhankasweni owawulwa nokwephucwa umhlaba, eXobho yizigagayi zobandlululo. Emumva kokuhlukunyezwa kaningi ngamaphoyisa obandlululo wahamba waya ekudingisweni ngo1976 lapho khona wathunyelwa khona eRussia ukuyoqeqeshwa ngezempi.
Ngemumva konyaka wabuyela eSwazini lapho bamenza khona umkhuzi wezempi okusho ukuthi nguKhomanda ngesilungu wamabutho ayezongena eNatali ngaphansi kukaJoe Modise noJoe Slovo. KwaKhongolose ubehlonishwa kakhulu yizozonke izinkokheli zakhe ngobuciko bobuholi ayenabo. Kumalungu kaKhongolose ubehlonishwa kakhulu nalapha ePhalamende ngoba ubethi uma ebona ukuthi akuhambi kahle, asukume asho ngaphandle ukuthi ubani ophethe umhlangano futhi uma ulalela ubone ubuhlakani bakhe.
Ubengayifuni into ebheke eceleni ngisho kuthiwa uzohlomula kangakanani futhi engenasikhathi sobutofotofo nobucwebecwebe banoma yiluphi uhlobo. Okusho ukuthi ngesiLungu ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Mr D M GUMEDE: Speaker, and members of Parliament as a whole, I greet you with due respect.
Mr Phungula was born on 15 March 1932, at Nhlazuka near Richmond; he was born by the maiden of Shange. He was married and had two wives. He joined the ANC in 1952 in Durban where he was one of the volunteers, working at Joko Tea. That is where he met the prominent members of the struggle, SACTU, working with Mr Moses Mabhida, Steven Dlamini and Mr Mtshali, who is present in this House.
He encouraged women to fight the apartheid pass laws and he also played a pivotal role in the campaign aimed at fighting against land deprivation, in Ixopo, by the apartheid veterans. After being traumatised by the apartheid police he went into exile in 1976, where he was deployed to Russia to receive military training.
After a year he came back to Swaziland where he was made a military commander of the MK detachment that was going to be deployed in Natal under the command of Joe Modise and Joe Slovo. In the ANC, he was respected by all of his leaders for the leadership expertise he possessed. Among the members of the ANC he was highly respected even here in Parliament because whenever he suspected that there was something wrong, he would stand up and raise it, no matter who was chairing the meeting, and when you listened attentively you would see his intelligence.
He could not stand something that was out of order no matter how much he would benefit from it and he did not have any time for luxury and material things of whatever nature. Which means in English ...]
... he was not a materialist. He was principled, disciplined and had no time for dishonesty. For parliamentary meetings he was always on time, all the time. He had respect for authority and yet had no fear of anyone. He was a brilliant strategist with a wonderful emotional intelligence.
Yebo, silahlakelwe yinsizwa ezinsizweni,indoda emadodeni! Iqhawe lamaqhawe! Siyohlala simkhumbula ngobuqotho bakhe, ngesibindi sakhe, ngokwethembeka kwakhe, ngokuzithoba kwakhe nangokuzinikela kwakhe kuyo yonke into ayenzayo. KwabakaPhungula sithi: Lalani ngenxeba; akwehlanga lungehliyo. Indima yakhe uyilimle wayiqeda, okwethu asibonge uMdali ngokwesipho sakhe esiyigugu asinika sona ngokuthi, kuthi lapha ezweni lethu elinezingqinamba ezingaka asinike igugu lokuxazulula izinkinga esinazo.
KuKhongolose sithi: Umkhonto oyigugu uwile; abeza ngemuva kwakhe abawucoshe, bawusebenzise njengaye bawuphathe njengezikhali zamaNtungwa. Siyakhuleka kuwe gosa lamagosa, qhawe lomkhonto ulale ngoxolo. Siyohlala sikukhonzile, sikuthanda qhawe lalaqhawe! Mdlovu usikhonzele koTambo, koModise, koMahabane, koDube ubatshele ukuthi basibheke, masibonise indlela ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ngithi kuwe ndlelanhle! (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Of course, we have lost a young man among young men, a man among men! Hero among heroes! We will remember him for his reliability, his bravery, his loyalty, his humbleness and his commitment to everything he did. To the Phungula family we say: Accept what has happened as fate, God has given, God has taken. He has lived his life to the fullest, ours is to be grateful to God for His precious gift He has given us, when we had so many difficulties in our country He provided us with a treasure to solve our problems.
To the ANC we say: the precious spear has fallen; those who come after him should pick it up, utilise it just like he did and handle it with great care. We salute you, steward among stewards, hero of uMkhonto we Sizwe, rest in peace. We will always pay respect to you and love you, hero of heroes! Mdlovu please send our regards to Tambo, Modise, Mahabane, Dube and tell them to guard us and show us the way every time. I bid farewell to you!]
Debate concluded.
Motion agreed to.