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President Jacob Zuma joined the political heavyweights who said goodbye to Dr. Meshack Radebe in Maqongqo outside Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
- Meshack Radebe died in hospital last week on Saturday at the age of 71.
- He spent many years as MEC for social development, as well as for agriculture and environmental affairs in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Jacob Zuma praised him for his pacification efforts during the violence in the province between the ANC and the IFP in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Former President Jacob Zuma has described the late Meshack Radebe as a true friend and comrade.
Zuma was one of the speakers at Radebe’s funeral in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, which was attended by senior members of the ANC, including Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.
The former MEC for Social Development, Agriculture and Environment died in hospital last Saturday at the age of 72. He was affectionately known as ubhungane umkhumbi wokumoyizela. (someone who makes other people happy)
“Bhungane was a comrade that you had no doubts about because he did not hide his thoughts and feelings. He would talk about them and let them know. He did not think about how you could receive it, all he knew was that you needed him. Know what he was thinking and what they were. your ideas.
“There are not many people like him. As other speakers said, he would call at any time when he felt the need to tell you something, be it big, important or small,” Zuma said.
Over the years, Radeba had proven to be a staunch ally of the former president, attending many of his court appearances.
“It was a comrade with whom I was close [and] who ended up being a great friend. We talk about everything, the big and scary and the nice and happy. We were arguing about who was the womanizer among us … His house was my house and my house was his house, “Zuma joked.
Pacifier
Zuma praised Radebe for his bravery and his efforts to achieve peace during the violence between the ANC and IFP in the province between 1985 and 1990.
“Bhunge was a brave and honest man when he screamed and asked him what he was doing when he spoke to his counterpart to fix the problem in Hammarsdale. If he spoke up, they accused him of selling himself, but he didn’t. He suffered for it and even got certain names, but he had the courage because he knew it was wrong to fight each other as blacks and kill each other.
“There are not many people who would have done that. When I say that this man was brave, I mean it because I can mention the things that he stood for, he stood for the truth,” he said.
Zuma called Radebe a proud father and husband, as well as a mainstay of the ANC that we will truly miss.
