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Zuma urges youth to emulate Kotane’s leadership skills

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President Jacob Zuma says the history about the life and times of Moses Kotane should serve as an inspiration for young people who have ambitions to lead.

Zuma was addressing people at the reburial of the South African Communist Party’s (SACP) longest serving secretary general, Moses Kotane, at Pella stadium in North West.

He added that Kotane gave his whole life to the struggle for freedom, justice and equality. Kotane died in Russia in 1978 after a short illness and his remains were repatriated to his home soil last week.

Zuma says Kotane was a well-rounded intellectual and was dedicated to the liberation struggle. “Through him, we want to inspire our youth in particular to read, work hard and rise through leadership of organisations through the ranks, through commitment, dedication and hard work.”

He adds, “Ntate Kotane was an avid reader, whose thirst for knowledge earned him a fond place in the hearts and minds of the leadership of our movement at the time.”

In his address, the South African Communist Party (SACP) general-secretary Blade Nzimande says there is no space for people perpetuating divisions and factionalism within the ANC-led tripartite alliance

“Do not go and join the SACP because you want to settle scores in the ANC… Or be in the ANC, run away from the party because you want to settle scores in the Communist Party. Our organisations are not organisations for settling scores, they are revolutionary organisations to lead the struggle for a better life in our country. That is what we must learn from the life of Uncle Kotane.”

Click below to watch, Nzimande’s full address

The Congress of the South African Trade Union president Sdumo Dlamini also addressed the mourners.

Click below to watch:

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