The homecoming of the mortal remains of struggle stalwarts Moses Kotane and JB Marks should mark a new chapter of many more returns of those who died outside the country. That is the hope that has been expressed by President Jacob Zuma.
Zuma was addressing hundreds of people who had gathered at the Waterkloof Air Force Base to receive the two remains from Moscow, Russia, on Sunday morning.
Among those gathered were the Kotane and Marks families, cabinet ministers, tripartite alliance leaders and ordinary members of the public.
Rather than being a solemn event, the ceremony at Waterkloof was celebratory.
Our veterans at the reception of the remains of Cdes JB Marks and Moses Kotane in Waterkloof pic.twitter.com/VQWM4zfA79
— ST Ndabeni-Abrahams (@Stellarated) March 1, 2015
In his address, President Zuma expressed the hope that the return of the two men’s mortal remains should be followed by other such homecomings.
“I don’t think that some of us will rest before some of our comrades that lie in other countries come back… They are not there because they were just visiting. They had taken a decision to fight … for this country.”
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has been hard at work in the past year to ensure that the repatriation of the two stalwarts took place.
Mthethwa praised the government of Russia for the friendship it has shown to the country – now and in the past.
The family of struggle stalwart Moses Kotane says the return of his mortal remains to home soil from Russia fills them with mixed feelings.
Kotane was a towering figure in the fight against apartheid from the 1920s until the 1970s.
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Tombstone of the Icon Moses Kotane in Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow where every Russian wishes to be buried. pic.twitter.com/Kz98nP0rYe
— Jimmy Manyi (@KrilaGP) March 1, 2015
Kotane was a long serving General Secretary of the then Communist Party of South Africa, a member of the ANC’s National Executive and a leader of the Federation of Non-European Trade Unions.
He was one of the first people to be banned when the government clamped down on communists in the 1950s and was tried with other leaders of the Defiance Campaign of that era.
Welcome home Moses Kotane. South African hero, legend amongst men, son of the soil, Amandla! pic.twitter.com/UKj86nkHg1
— President Vusani (@Vusani_) March 1, 2015
Former Treasurer-gen of the ANC Moses Kotane with struggle icon Nelson Mandela (August 9, 1905- May 19,1978) #ANC pic.twitter.com/5Fw4avsJtM
— Bongani Siwela (@Lord_Siwela) March 1, 2015
His son, Sam Kotane, says that almost everyone had a tear in their eye when the coffin was taken into the tent.
“We are both sad and happy in the sense that he fought over a period of five decades for the liberation of this country. Unfortunately, he never lived long enough to see a free, liberated South Africa. So now, we are happy that we bring him back to a free, liberated South Africa.”
JB Marks’ family says that the last few months have been emotionally taxing.
Marks was buried in Russia in August 1972 after suffering a stroke.
During his life of activism, he served as the Chairperson of the then Communist Party of South Africa, President of the Mine Workers Union (a precursor to today’s National Union of Mineworkers) and as Treasurer-General of the ANC.
His grandson, Roswin Marks, says that they feel at ease now that they have received his remains.
“We feel blessed that they have actually awarded us the opportunity to see this day come. We never thought it [was] possible at some stage, but clearly it is. It has become a reality. Our minds have been set at ease just knowing that he has been returned home and he is among our home soil, buried where he has been born.”
SACP Deputy Chairperson and Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi says he hopes the return of the remains brings closure to their loved ones.
He was one of the high level dignitaries in attendance.
“For the families and for the friends and communities that have been calling for the repatriation of the mortal remains, we trust this brings closure.”
According to Cosatu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, Moses Kotane and JB Marks are the ancestors of the freedom South Africans now enjoy.
Vavi says that the foundations of South Africa’s democracy are thanks to the contribution the two struggle stalwarts.
“Those demands you see in the Freedom Charter [are] thanks to the teachings of both Moses Kotane and JB Marks. Those are now the demands that are enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa. So this receiving of the remains should serve as a reminder to all South Africans of how long, how painful [and] how challenging the journey was for us to arrive at the point at which we are celebrating 21 years of democracy in South Africa today”.
ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe was also among those gathered. Mantashe says that Kotane and Marks are still playing a role in building South Africa’s democracy.
“The fact that they remained in Russia for so many years and they are coming back is intended to strengthen the relationship between South Africa and Russia because these were internationalists. They were not just heroes of South Africa… They were internationalists.”
Moses Kotane is due to be buried on March 14 in Pella near Rustenburg in the North West Province. JB Marks’ burial will take place a week later in Ventersdorp.
I am happy JB Marks and Moses Kotane's busts will remain at Novodevichy cemetery #History #Kotane #JBMarks pic.twitter.com/J3vhy2Zp3M
— Nutts Hunny! (@NuttsHunny) March 1, 2015
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