Honouring Nathi Mthethwa: A Life of Service and Sacrifice

Jeff Radebe

There is a painful irony in history that often escapes us in moments of grief. Several years ago, the late Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa and I worked closely to bring home the remains of two of our struggle icons, Moses Kotane and JB Marks, from Moscow, both having died in distant nations, far from the African soil they fought to liberate.

We understood the profound significance of returning these giants to the people they loved and served. Today, as a country, a movement, and a people, we face the same solemn task for the man who helped bring our heroes home.

Today, we must also perform this final service for Comrade Nathi Mthethwa, bringing him home from France to the soil of KwaZulu-Natal, the very ground where his revolutionary work began and where his ancestors await his return.

This is not a mere coincidence of fate, but a profound historical symmetry. The sacred task he once performed for others has now become his own final rite of passage, a final testament to a life defined by service.

I personally met Comrade Nathi in 1990, shortly after my release from Robben Island, when I first assumed the role of Chairperson of the ANC in Southern Natal. He was then the Secretary of the ANC Youth League in the region, one of the most active young comrades in KwaZulu-Natal, already possessing a political maturity beyond his years.

What many didn't know was that he had been recruited into the underground ANC during the 1980s and served with distinction in Operation Vula, the top-secret clandestine unit commanded by Mac Maharaj and General Siphiwe Nyanda. This background in the movement's most sensitive operations had prepared him for the challenges we faced in the early 1990s, when the violence perpetrated by the apartheid state and Inkatha Freedom Party militia forces threatened to derail our transition to democracy.

The self-defence units we established represented not aggression but a necessary community response to protect our people from the relentless violence that claimed so many innocent lives by those who cried for freedom. Comrade Nathi was among those who stepped forward to be recruited into these units, demonstrating the same courage and commitment he had shown in the underground structures.

His leadership extended beyond the defensive structures. Comrade Nathi had been a leading student activist in the Claremont and Klaarwater areas, distinguishing himself as a youth leader who understood that the struggle required both intellectual engagement and physical courage. The trust we built during those testing times would become the foundation of a working relationship that spanned three decades.

The dawn of democracy in 1994 marked the beginning of a new phase in Comrade Nathi's service to the people. He rose within the ranks of the ANC Youth League, becoming their NEC member for many years under the dynamic leadership of the late Peter Mokaba.

This period showcased his ability to transition from the politics of resistance to the politics of construction, understanding that the energy of the youth needed to be channeled towards building a nation rather than endless confrontation. It was during this time that I watched him grow from a fiery youth activist into a thoughtful political leader, always keeping the interests of our people at the forefront of his work.

His election as Member of Parliament in 2002 began a distinguished twenty-one-year parliamentary career that would see him contribute to shaping our democracy in multiple capacities. He brought his characteristic diligence and insight to the Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Energy, understanding that the economic transformation of our country depended on how we managed our natural resources for the benefit of our people.

His leadership qualities were recognised when he was appointed as the Chief Whip of the ANC, a role that required not only political acumen but also the ability to unite comrades around our shared objectives. Through these years, I witnessed his growth into one of the most reliable and disciplined cadres in our parliamentary caucus.

In 2008, President Kgalema Motlanthe appointed him as Minister of Safety and Security, and the following year, he became Police Minister. It was in this capacity that our working relationship entered its most intensive phase. As Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, and as Chairperson of the Security Cluster of Cabinet, I worked closely with him to coordinate our approach to creating a safe and secure South Africa.

The trust we had built in the difficult days of KwaZulu-Natal found new expression in the complex task of transforming our security services to serve a democratic society. Those were long nights of strategy sessions, difficult decisions, and constant engagement with communities across our country.

His appointment as Sports and Culture Minister might have seemed like a departure from his previous roles, but it demonstrated his versatility and understanding that nation-building requires attention to our social and cultural fabric.

The work we did together to repatriate the remains of JB Marks and Moses Kotane from Russia now feels particularly meaningful. He approached this sacred duty with the understanding that a nation cannot move forward without properly honouring those who paved the way. Little did we know that the same sombre repatriation would one day be performed for him.

His final chapter of service as our Ambassador in France saw him fostering relations between South Africa and France, particularly in the crucial areas of business and trade relations. He understood that our economic sovereignty depended on building strong international partnerships that would benefit our people. Even in this role, he remained the same disciplined cadre I had met all those years ago, committed, focused, and dedicated to serving the interests of South Africa and its people.

We thank you, Nyambose, for your unwavering commitment to the struggle for liberation.

On behalf of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, the People of the province and ANC Branches, we would like to convey our deepest condolences to the Mthethwa family and the nation, still in shock.

* Jeff Radebe is the Convenor of the ANC KZN Provincial Task Team.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.