Hon Speaker, hon Deputy President, I move:
That the House -
(1) notes with sadness that on Thursday, 30 July 2009, Mahwidi John "Mokgomana" Phala passed away;
(2) further notes that hon Phala joined the African National Congress in 1953 and immediately became part of the people who moved from village to village to solicit inputs for the Freedom Charter and also attended the historic Congress of the People that adopted the Freedom Charter;
(3) recognises that in 1954 hon Phala, together with leaders such as Flag Boshielo, Elias Motsoaledi, Lucas Kgaphola, Oriah Maleka and Mogaramedi Sekhukhune, to mention but a few, formed an organisation called Sebatakgomo to organise migrant workers from Sekhukhuneland who were working in areas around Johannesburg;
(4) recalls that Sebatakgomo played a leading role in a militant uprising in May 1958 against the apartheid regime's attempts to introduce the diabolic scheme of extending race discrimination by introducing Bantu homelands, a scheme that included the curtailing of cattle numbers, fencing, land partitioning, Bantu regional and territorial authorities and enthroning and dethroning of chiefs by the apartheid state;
(5) remembers that in 1961 "Mokgomana", as he was known by his comrades, was amongst the first to join uMkhonto weSizwe and was part of the Mzimhlophe unit before he went on to organise his own units in areas such as Moletsane and Naledi;
(6) further remembers that in 1976 he was arrested and sentenced to thirty years on Robben Island and while on Robben Island he shared a prison cell with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe;
(7) acknowledges the great contribution that the late John Phala made as a Member of a Provincial Legislature from 1994 to 1999 and of Parliament since 1999 and also that he served in various portfolio committees;
(8) believes that hon Phala was an honest leader who leaves behind a legacy of dedication and hard work; and
(9) conveys its condolences to the Phala family and the African National Congress.
I thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, we, from the DA, would like to associate ourselves with the tributes paid to the late Mahwidi John Phala. Mr Phala had a long and distinguished career as an activist, a trade unionist, an organiser of community resistance, a member of MK, and as a public representative in the provincial legislature and in this National Assembly.
He was born to poor parents in the deep rural areas, and he did not have the advantage of a formal education, and yet he was a natural leader of the various organisations to which he belonged and the campaigns in which he was involved. Yet, throughout his life he remained humble and dedicated to the constituency he wished to serve, and whose lives he wished to better.
Naturally his role in the struggle exposed him to periodic prison sentences, including a 30-year sentence served in part on Robben Island, in the same cell, I understand, as the hon Deputy President. Perhaps because of his experience of prisons and of being a prisoner, he was a natural and very well-informed member of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, which is how I came to know and like him.
The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services is not a glamorous committee. Much of its work is concerned with the oversight of the 237 correctional centres, and oversight tours are long and frequently quite exhausting. The late John Phala was already 80 years of age when he joined the committee, yet he accompanied us on most of the oversight visits and we benefited greatly from his experience and his insights. He was also an extremely conscientious member of the committee and insisted on attending all meetings, even when he was very ill.
I remember one evening when we were visiting the KwaZulu-Natal prisons in 2006, we were staying in a hotel in Durban and Mr Phala went for a walk on the beach front. During the course of this walk he was mugged and his cell phone was stolen. I remember thinking how outrageous it was that somebody who had given so much and who was so passionate about rehabilitating offenders should be the victim of this senseless and violent crime. Yet even this experience did not diminish his determination to develop an effective prison system in South Africa.
Mr Phala lived a very full life and he had the satisfaction of living to see the things he had fought for realised in South Africa. We extend our condolences to his family and his friends, and to his colleagues in the ANC. May he rest in peace. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, as we reflect on a 100 days of the present administration led by President Zuma, let me take this opportunity to join other South Africans in conveying our deepest condolences to Ntate Phala and his family.
Ntate Phala was a formidable member of the ANC and uMkhonto we Sizwe, and during the struggle distinguished himself as a mentor, a visionary and someone who had unquestionable credentials. Because of his quest to free South Africa, he was detained on Robben Island.
After the first democratic elections in 1994, he served in the Limpopo legislature for one term and later served two terms in the National Assembly, until April 2009. Some of us knew him as a man of dignity, a mentor and a father figure. I'm sure as we were sitting in this House many of us gained valuable knowledge and useful information through his vast experience.
During the third democratic Parliament, my office was next to Ntate Phala's and he would always come and greet me and ask how my family was. This then showed him as a caring father and perhaps very outstanding in that way.
I do want to say Ntate Phala was a respected and dignified man. People would remember something that happened in this Parliament, when there was the Travelgate scandal and for some reason Ntate Phala saw himself entangled in this thing. We couldn't imagine how Ntate Phala could be involved.
When there was money that was to be paid in he was prepared to pay that money, even though he did not actually get in on the act of Travelgate. If it were not for hon member Komphela, he would have actually paid money that he did not even owe. He was so dignified and thought that we could not, and he, himself, could not be seen to be involved in this. Of course he was not and somehow it's good that that matter was laid to rest and was dealt with amicably.
In celebrating his life in politics - and we say he lived the life and was the change he wanted to see in the world, especially South Africa and Africa - we hope our sons and daughters can emulate him and also Ntate Phungula to forge ahead in the building of the truly nonracial society we all fought for. The dedication of a free society for all who live in it should be based on that which the two veterans have actually shown us.
Following the passing of Ntate Phala, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and the ANC. Re re robala ka kgotso. [May his soul rest in peace.] I thank you. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the IFP and our President Dr M G Buthelezi, today we are mourning the death of a man, uBaba uJohn Phala, chiefly known as Mokgomana, who has contributed so much to the struggle for the freedom of our country. It has been a great loss to South Africa as a whole, because to lose a man of his stature affects us all.
To the family of uBaba uPhala ... kanjalo nakuKhongolose, sithi ... [... and also to the ANC, we are saying that ...]
... we extend our heartfelt condolences. May his soul depart in peace. Siyabonga. [Thank you.] [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker, Deputy President and hon members, today we are required to pay our respects to hon member M J Phala. Allow me, on behalf of the UDM, to extend our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues during this time of bereavement. It is not possible to ease your sense of loss, but we hope that you will find solace amongst one another. And in the long run your sadness will be lessened by memories of his achievements.
He joins the ranks of those other great South Africans who have passed away, but who will be remembered for contributing to the building of a democratic and free South Africa.
Robala ka khotso, senatla. [Rest in peace, mighty one.]
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The ACDP notes the significant contribution to the history of South Africa of Mr John Phala who passed away last month. As a member of the provincial legislature and this House, he leaves a legacy of dedication and hard work. The ACDP extends its condolences to the Phala family and to the ANC on the loss of a long-time friend and comrade. Thank you.
Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. The UCDP conveys its condolences to the bereaved family of the late hon M J Phala for the loss of their beloved son, beloved brother and beloved father.
Hon M J Phala served as a member of the provincial legislature in Limpopo from 1994 and joined the national Parliament in 1999 until April 2009. His contribution in building the democratic South Africa will always be missed. The UCDP says: "Lalang ka ntho madi a tshologe." [May his soul rest in peace.] Thank you.
Motlat?a-Sepikara, Motlat?a-Mopresidente, maloko ao a hlomphegago a Ntlo ye kgethwa ye, ke eme mo ke tlile go hlobo?a lapa la mogale wa bagale, e lego Morena Mahwidi John Phala, yo a re tloget?ego.
Morena Phala, bjalo ka ge go ?et?e go bolet?we mo, o tsenet?e mokgatlo wa go lwela khut?o mengwageng ya bo50. Se ke there?o. Ke mo tsebile ka dinako t?eo ge re be re katana le mmu?o wola wa maloba wa kgethollo. Re ile ra timelelana ka ge re be re ?oma ka sephiri, gomme mmu?o o be o nt?hint?e ka ga t?hwene o swara ebile o bolaya. Phala o ile a tsena bjangbotala le rena ra tsena bjangbotala, gomme ra timelelana.
Ke ile ka kwa ka ga yena ge rena le ba bangwe gona ka mo -boTokyo Sexwale - re emet?e thapo kua Tshwane Kgorongkgolo ya tsheko. Re be re seka gomme le yena a seka kua Kgorongkgolo ya tsheko ya Springs. Ba bangwe ba rena re ile ra phomelela gomme ra t?wa kgolegong. Eup?a yena le ba bangwe ba ile ba ahlolwa - bjalo ka ge go ?et?e go bolet?we fa.
Mahwidi Phala o be a ikgafet?e go lokolla naga ye le set?haba sa yona bophelong bja gagwe. Mahwidi Phala e be e le motho yo a bego a rata gore Afrika-Borwa e be naga e tee ka fase ga mookamedi o tee. E be e le maikemi?et?o a gagwe ao. O be a na le maitshwaro gomme a rata batho. Eup?a ge a be a ka hwet?a gore o sehwirihwiri gomme o lebelela morago mokgatlong le tseleng ya ntwa, o be a go tlogela. O be a re: "Ke t?a gago t?eo, rena re t?wela pele. O tla ?ala o di bona, sehwirihwiri tena!" E be e le motho wa go bolela ka tsela ye. Ke ka fao ke mo tsebago ka gona.
Mahwidi Phala o rile go t?wa kgolegong kua Robben Island - bjalo ka ge go ?et?e go bolet? we - nna le Tonakgolo ya Maphelo, Ngaka Aaron Motswaledi, le ba bangwe re ile ra mo direla mokete wo mogolo lapeng la gagwe gomme ra mo amogela. Go tloga fao, Mahwidi o bile le rena gomme ra bopa mokgatlo wa ANC ka tlase ga maitshawaro a magolo le lerato la go t?wet?a mokgatlo wo pele gore re lokolle naga ye. O ile a ba yo mongwe wa go bopa mokgatlo wo kua Limpopo nakong ya ge e sa le "Northern Transvaal". Gant?i o be a tsebja ka la "the lion of the north". O be a ?oma kudukudu mokgalabje Phala.
Go ile gwa fihla nako yeo e lego gore mokgatlo wo o a boya ka morago ga ditheri? ano. Morena Phala e bile leloko la Palamente, bjalo ka ge le ?et?e le tseba ka moka ga lena. O ?omile kua Limpopo le mo Kapa go fihlela ge a robala.
Morena Phala e be e le motho yo a ratago batho kudukudu. Eup?a ge e le mokgatlo wa gagwe wona, o be a o rata go feta dilo t?e ka moka. Bjalo ka ge mokgalabje a robet?e ka la30 Julae, re mo phuthile monyanyeng wa go keteka bophelo bja gagwe. Le a tseba gore ge motho a ?et?e a na le mengwaga ye 85, ga e sa le dillo, ke keteko ya bophelo bja gagwe ka gore ge motho a tlile lefaseng, ka nako ye nngwe ke tshwanelo gore a fete.
O tlogela mediro ye megolo go rena re lego Ntlong ye, set?haba le bana ba gagwe gore re t?wele pele go aga naga ye ya Afrika-Borwa ka fase ga Mopresidente o tee le naga e tee bjalo ka ge a re tlogelet?e wona mant?u a. Ge re be re le kua moketeng wa gagwe, re be re na le motlat?a mookamedi, e lego Kgalema Motlanthe. Ke yo. O be a le gona. Re mo phuthile semmu?o. Ka mant?u a mangwe o humane poloko ya semmu?o.
Bjalo re rata gore - pele ga bana ba gagwe le lena ka moka -a robale ka khut?o mogale wa bagale. Rena bao re ?et?ego mo, re swanet?e go t?ea tlhabano ya gagwe gomme re t?wele pele go bopa naga ye, re tlogele mabarebare. Naga ye e nyaka ma?ole a go tia a go swana le Morena Phala. Re swanet?e go kgokagana re age naga. O re tlogelet?e yona taba ye. Re swanet?e go e swara ka matsogo a mabedi gomme re t?wele pele. Go se ke gwa ba le bohwirihwiri. O be a sa rate bohwirihwiri, Phala. O be a sa rate go lebelela morago, eup?a a rata go lebela pele.
Re re go bana ba gagwe le lena ka moka, a robale ka khut?o. Ke a leboga. [Magoswi.] (Translation of Sepedi speech follows.)
[Mr L N DIALE: Deputy Speaker, Deputy President, hon members of this august House, I am standing here to extend my condolences to the family of a hero, that is Mr Mahwidi John Phala, who has passed on.
Mr Phala, as has already been indicated here, joined the party that fought for freedom in the 50s. This is a fact. I got to know him in those days when we were fighting against the previous apartheid regime. We lost touch as we were operating underground, and the government was up in arms arresting and killing. Phala disappeared, and we also disappeared and we eventually lost touch.
I heard about him again when myself and some people here - people like Tokyo Sexwale - were waiting in the Tshwane High Court to be hanged. We were on trial; he was also on trial in the Springs High Court. Some of us were released from prison but, judgement had already been passed on him and some other people, as has already been indicated here.
In his lifetime, Mahwidi Phala sacrificed himself to free this country and its nation. Mahwidi Phala was a kind of person who wanted South Africa to be one country under one leader. Those were his intentions. He was well behaved and someone who loved people. But should he find out that you were a hypocrite and that you did not commit your life to the party and to the struggle, he would leave you. He would say:" That is your problem, we are continuing. You will see where your life will end up, you hypocrite!"
After Mahwidi Phala was released from prison on Robben Island - as has already been indicated - the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, and I and others organised a huge welcome back party for him at his home. From there, Mahwidi has been with us and we formed the ANC because the purpose was to free this country. He was one of those people who built this party in Limpopo in those days when it was still called "Northern Transvaal". He was mostly known as "the lion of the north". Mr Phala was a hard-working person.
There came a time when this organisation went back to the table. As we all know, Mr Phala was a Member of Parliament. He was deployed to Limpopo as well as Cape Town until he passed on.
Mr Phala loved people, but when coming to his organisation, he excelled because he loved this organisation to the extreme. As an old man, he died on 30 July, and we laid him to rest. We did not mourn his death but we celebrated his life as we all know that he was 85 years old and it was time for him to pass on.
He bequeathed great deeds to us in this House, the community and his children so as to carry on to build our country South Africa under one President and as one nation as this was what he cherished. The Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe, was also among those who were present at the funeral. He was given a state funeral. We buried him formally. That is to say, we accorded him a state funeral.
At this juncture, we say to his children and everybody - let him rest in peace, he is a hero among heroes. All of us who left behind, have to pick up his baton and continue building this nation, and stop listening to destructive words. This nation needs strong soldiers like Mr Phala. We have to unite and build the nation. He left us with this idea of building the nation. We have to cherish and uphold this idea and continue to fight. Mr Phala did not like deceitfulness or roguery but instead committed his life to the organisation and did not look back.
We say to his children and everybody, may he rest in peace. Thank you [Applause.]]
Debate concluded.
Motion agreed to.