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President Cyril Ramaphosa has conveyed his “sadness and heartfelt condolences” at the passing away of African National Congress (ANC) stalwart and retired diplomat Moses “Moss” Chikane.
Chikane died on Wednesday night at the age of 69 following an illness.
The family issued a statement on Thursday morning saying that the liberation struggle stalwart had been unwell for some time and had been in and out of hospital.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the entire Chikane family, the African National Congress and society at large. Moss Chikane made a significant contribution to our struggle and served the People of South Africa through the Liberation Movement.
"We owe him and his generation an immeasurable debt of gratitude and appreciation. May his soul rest in peace,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
Chikane was a former leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and served as the party’s Transvaal Secretary.
@RareSApics @TerrorLekota @sahistoryonline This was my cousin, Moss Chikane. I was in the Pietermaritzburg Treason Trial.
— Frank Chikane (@RevFChikane) November 22, 2014
As one-third of what was known as the UDF Three (with COPE leader Mosiuoa Lekota and former North West Premier Popo Molefe), he was prosecuted by the apartheid government in the Delmas Treason Trial, convicted of treason and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on Robben Island.
Chikane was also the national co-ordinator of the ANC team responsible for facilitating the return of ANC members from exile in the early 1990s.
In 2005 he served as South Africa’s Ambassador to Germany and to Zambia five years later.
In a joint statement released from the dock before their incarceration, the UDF Three foretold history saying: “Somewhere in the future lies a date when black and white South Africans will take a second look at these moments of our history.
"They will evaluate afresh the events now in contention and our role in them. And since the privilege will belong to them, they will pass final judgement. We are convinced that theirs will be contrary to the present one.”
Chikane is survived by five sons, a daughter, three brothers and four sisters. His family said the funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
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