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Mrs Motlana and family,
The President of the Republic of South Africa, Cde Kgalema Motlanthe,
Former President Thabo Mbeki,
Leadership of the ANC and other political formations,
Fellow South Africans,
The national flags have been flying at half-mast in our country and diplomatic missions from the 3rd of December. This signals the fact that Dr Nthatho Motlana is no ordinary South African.
We are bidding farewell to an outstanding patriot and ANC stalwart, an exemplary community leader and a man who sacrificed a lot for the people of Soweto and our country in general.
The African National Congress is proud to be able to pay homage to this great South African, who was principled to the end, and never shifted from his loyalty to his country and his people and his organisation, the ANC.
The passing on of Dr Motlana indicates that we are beginning to lose our elders as the ANC and as the country.
We must take time to reflect on the enormous contribution of this generation in our lives, and in the struggle for the liberation of our country and people.
We are indebted to Dr Motlana as a nation in many respects. This community leader, physician, activist and ANC cadre supported the family of our icon and founding father of a free South Africa, Tata Nelson Mandela, in the face of repression. Those were difficult times, when getting close to the Mandela family meant courting intimidation, harassment and persecution.
Indeed his family paid the price and suffered from the brutality of the apartheid police.
As the ANC Youth League marks its 64th year of existence, it can draw lessons from its veterans such as Dr Motlana, who was Secretary General of the League in the 1940s. We are proud to be an organisation with a rich past and history.
This veteran of the ANC stood trial with Madiba and 18 other ANC leaders during the 1952 defiance campaign, and he never stopped fighting for freedom and for change.
When the ANC was banned and leaders were in exile, he is one of those who played a key role inside the country, keeping the flame of freedom alive.
The story of June 16 cannot be fully told without mentioning the role of Dr Motlana.
He bridged the gap between the students and parents, through the Black Parents Association, and the Soweto Committee of Ten. Despite police harassment, he provided leadership, guidance and direction to our angry youth and their frustrated parents.
When one talks of a father of the nation, this label fits Dr Motlana wholeheartedly.
On the dawn of freedom, he realised that the struggle for socio-economic transformation needed to begin in earnest and to succeed. He led transformation on the economic front and has left an indelible mark.
As a businessman, this outstanding patriot excelled, demonstrating the need for the broadening of the ownership of our economy.
During the times when we were made to believe black people could not be successful entrepreneurs, he established Lesedi clinic in Soweto, the first black owned and black run hospital. He also started the first black owned and operated medical aid scheme.
The holding company, New Africa Investment Limited became his trademark, opening the way for many other empowerment companies.
We urge our youth, who are our future, to give themselves time to understand Dr Motlana`s life and his contribution to our country. They must understand what other children went through during the Soweto uprising, having had to brave bullets and teargas to get a good education.
We cannot let our youth forget or not know where we come from.
In understanding the lives of the founding fathers and mothers of the democratic South Africa, we can all appreciate what freedom has brought to our country.
We are optimistic about the future because our youth has demonstrated that they want to be actively involved in the public life of this country. We have seen them coming out in massive numbers at ANC political gatherings last month. We also saw the huge numbers of young people who have registered to vote in next year`s elections.
Our founding fathers are leaving behind a good legacy of a highly attentive public, and a wide-awake youth that has the potential of taking this country further.
They leave behind a people who will always appreciate the difference between life under apartheid, and living in freedom in a united, non-sexist, non-racial democracy.
We have our nation`s founding fathers and mothers to thank for the successful South Africa that we have created together, as the ruling party, assisted by many sectors of South African society.
Dr Motlana, Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo, Chief Albert Luthuli, Chris Hani, Billy Nair and countless others fill the pages of our history, making us proud to be South Africans, and making the ANC proud of its history and traditions.
We are succeeding in transforming this country because we have a good foundation and vision, developed by our founding fathers and mothers.
We have a duty to take forward their vision, and ensure that our country becomes united and prosperous, and that we continuously make progress towards the better life we strive for each day. When no child goes to bed without a meal, when all families have a roof over their heads, when our workers have decent jobs - we will have honoured the memory and vision of our stalwarts such as Dr Motlana.
When the ANC government is able to ensure that more people have water and sanitation, electricity, affordable and accessible public transport, social security, quality education and healthcare, we will be truly honouring the memory of our founding heroes.
We will not rest until we achieve this better life, as our founding fathers and mothers sacrificed their youth and comfort to ensure that freedom reigns in our land.
As the African National Congress we will always be proud to count Dr Motlana amongst some of our most outstanding cadres and leaders.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends. May you find solace in the knowledge that Dr Motlana`s name will be etched in our memories and in the history of our country forever, as a hero who touched many hearts with his generosity of spirit and patriotism.
I thank you.