Anti-apartheid veteran Eric ‘Stalin’ Mtshali dies‚ aged 87

Struggle stalwart‚ veteran communist and trade unionist Eric “Stalin” Mtshali has died‚ the ANC announced on Friday.

Mtshali was a member of the South African Communist Party‚ an anti-apartheid icon and one of the key figures in the formation of the South African Council of Trade Unions.

Born in Durban‚ Mtshali joined the anti-apartheid movement straight after high school.

He died on Friday at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital after a long illness. He was 87 years old.

“Although we were aware of his ill health‚ we were nursing hopes that he would recover and be with us once again‚” the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said.

The provincial ANC described Mtshali as a solution-driven leader and said his death was “a depletion of solid leaders who are the custodians of the culture and values of the alliance”.

“In all meetings he offered analysis on the challenges experienced by the ANC in implementing programmes aimed at driving the transformation of society and offered solutions on how to turn things around.

“He had a rare ability of analysing the political environment under which we operate and assessing the balance of forces and their influence in the success of our programmes‚” KZN ANC spokesperson Nomagugu Simelane said.

Mtshali was also a recipient of South Africa’s prestigious Order of Mendi for Bravery in silver.

He spent more than 30 years in exile and represented the South African Congress of Trade Unions at the World Federation of Trade Unions in Prague‚ Czechoslovakia.

He was also one of the founders of some of the ANC’s intelligence units.

Since 1994 Mtshali has served in different government positions.

“Comrade Stalin used every opportunity in parliament as an MP to advance the interests of ordinary members of society… he prioritised education and the acquisition of knowledge required to achieve the total economic emancipation of the marginalised‚” Simelane added.

His passion for education resulted in a school being named after him‚ the Eric Stalin Mtshali Secondary School in Wyebank‚ Durban.

“As the ANC we are hopeful that during this difficult period the people of KwaZulu-Natal and the whole country will be comforted knowing that the Eric Stalin Mtshali Secondary School will remain a symbol of hope for many years to come‚” said Simelane.

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