A sad farewell to Walter Sisulu

2003-05-17 15:45

Cape Town - A bugler sounded the last post as the coffin bearing Walter Sisulu's body was lowered into the ground and he was finally laid to rest at 13:50 on Saturday.

One of Sisulu's grandchildren, a young girl, read a message out on behalf of Albertina Sisulu, saying that his passing had left a void and pain in her life.

"Walter what do I do now without you? Your passing away was a great shock to me," the message read.

The coffin, draped in a South African flag, was transported from the Orlando Stadium in Soweto to the cemetery on a SA National Defence Force gun carriage, and led into the grounds by a SANDF guard of honour slow-marching ahead.

Bishop Mvume Dandala oversaw proceedings of the graveside service, while Archbishop Desmond Tutu led the sermon in the stadium.

Only the family and VIPs were allowed into cemetery, which was cordoned off by security forces. The crowd at the stadium could watch proceedings on a big-screen television.

The flag which had draped the coffin was presented to Sisulu's wife, Albertina, by a senior army officer, as was the ANC flag, which had earlier draped the coffin at the Sisulu home during a private prayer service.

The first sand and flower petals were poured into the grave by immediate family and close friends while a SA Police Service choir sang in the background.

Host of VIPs

Earlier, the service at the packed 30 000 seat stadium was attended by a host of VIPs and dignitaries, including President Thabo Mbeki, Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk.

Also present were, among others, the heads of state of Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Malawi, as well as several former heads of state, including Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and Jerry Rawlings of Ghana.

The crowd was generally well behaved, and masters of ceremonies Gauteng Premier Mbazima Shilowa and Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile had only occasionally to remind them of the sombreness of the event.

The speakers included Mbeki, who said South Africa was in mourning for Sisulu, who had taught struggle heroes to hate oppression, but not human beings.

"Walter Sisulu's life had meaning not because he lived, but because his life gave new life to the millions who are proud to call themselves Africans.

"He never said we should hate other human beings, including those that oppressed and dehumanised millions because of the colour of their skin.

"He told us that were we ever to hate other human beings we would sacrifice our own humanity," Mbeki said.

Shilowa, who said Sisulu loved to sing and hum tunes, called on a singer to sing The Greatest Love of All, apparently one of Sisulu's favourite songs.

Earlier an emotional Nelson Mandela, one of Sisulu's closest friends, paid tribute to his mentor and friend, saying: "He was my friend, brother, comrade, keeper. He was a leader of all the people irrespective of the political organisation they belonged to."

Wisdom and humanity

Sisulu was a true humble leader who always groomed young leaders, always seeking to unify people and to "heal and bring them together", Mandela said.

During his sermon, Tutu said Sisulu epitomised the characteristic of altruism.

This led him to do things for others, not for self-aggrandisement.

Saturday's service was to celebrate "a wonderful life lived humbly and unselfishly on behalf of others".

The best tribute South Africans could pay to Sisulu was to invoke the spirit of altruism, and not to amass power and wealth for oneself only, he said.

Human rights lawyer, George Bizos, who was the lawyer for the Rivonia treason trialists in the 1960s, said Sisulu's wisdom and humanity would be sorely missed.

Although freedom was long in coming and many folded their arms in despair, Sisulu was not one of them.

While in prison, Sisulu never once complained about his own position, but gave his attention to his family and others.

He would not "want us to grieve" for him, but rather to celebrate his life, Bizos said.

Bizos, who is currently defending Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in his own treason trial in Harare, spoke while a stony-faced President Robert Mugabe sat staring ahead.

Sisulu died at his home in Linden, Johannesburg on May 5.

He would have turned 91 on Sunday - the day after his burial.

- SAPA