President Cyril Ramaphosa has apologised for the way ANC veteran Zola Skweyiya had been treated in recent years.
Ramaphosa delivered the Eulogy at Skweyiya’s final send off in Pretoria on Saturday. Skweyiya died last week at a Pretoria hospital aged 75.
Skweyiya joined the ANC in 1956, was an ANC activist at Fort Hare University and mobilised support for Umkhonto we Sizwe until going into exile in Tanzania in the 1960s.
He also worked for the ANC in various offices and capacities.
Ramaphosa apologised for the day Skweyiya had been denied access to the ANC leadership at Luthuli House.
“In the twilight of his life, this gallant member of the Luthuli Detachment was, by his own account, stopped at the doors of Luthuli House when he wanted to meet the leadership. Such was the pain and disappointment of this cadre who gave his life to our organisation. As President of the Republic and the African National Congress, I wish to join Deputy President Mabuza in saying we regret this shameful departure from the principles, values and ways of our movement.”
