Foundation praises ANC stalwart Masebe

Collins Chabane Foundation pays tribute to Thabo Masebe and Class of 80s

The Village Voice

The Collins Chabane Foundation has heaped praises on the late government communications head Thabo Masebe and his class of the 80s for their fight against apartheid.

Following the passing of this respected political leader who had been part of the liberation struggle the foundation issued a statement paying tribute to him for his sacrifices and those of his generation.

“Comrade Thabo and his generation of freedom fighters belong to a special cohort in the history of our struggle. They formed a bedrock of all round resistance and offensive against apartheid in the1980s,” said the foundation through Secretary Bohani Shibambu.

“When Oliver Tambo was erecting an international political wall of campaigners to isolate apartheid South Africa, Thabo Masebe’s generation was inducted into his underground machinery, mass mobilisation and armed action. They gave birth to the Congress of South African Students, the Azanian Students Organisation, and the forerunner of the South African Students Congress and provided a platform for organised action to many militant young people,” said the foundation.

The foundation hailed that generation for having swelled the ranks of Umkhonto weSizwe, the military wings of the ANC.

The young people at the time helped former structures that at the time affiliated to the United Democratic Front.

“Young people were besieged, facing arrests, torture, jail and death. But they shouted their war cry, even higher: “Freedom or death, victory is certain.”

The foundation hailed the late Masebe for his role in leading young people at the University of Venda and also the then Northern Transvaal Youth Congress, affiliated to the UDF. The statement was signed by secretary Bohani Shibambu and the chairperson of the Collins Chabane Foundation Professor Muxe Nkondo

Following the ANC’s unbanning, he became a top leader of the organisation and became the chairperson of the ANC Youth League in Limpopo.

Masebe later opted to serve the government as a government communicator and served the role with distinction.

He was buried over the weekend.