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Friday , March , 29 2024
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Former NUM General Secretary and current ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe to address a memorial lecture in honour of the late Nkosiphendule Kolisile

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The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will hold the first annual memorial lecture in honour of the late Nkosiphendule Kolisile. Kolisile is a former NUM shop steward and MEC for Economic Development in Gauteng. He died in a tragic car accident in 2013. Comrade Kolisile played a pivotal role in the establishment of NUM structures as well as the integration of these structures with the broader tripartite alliance structures. 

This is an initiative by the NUM Branch at Sibanye Gold Protection Services. After careful consideration and in recognising his selflessness, humility and commitment to the working class and the poor, the branch has partnered with different stakeholders and the Kolisile family to host the first annual memorial lecture on 1 November 2014 at Westonaria Sports Complex, Westonaria in honour of comrade Nkosiphendule Kolisile. 

The memorial lecture will start at 14:30 under the theme “A Legacy and Memory to be Preserved.”

The memorial lecture will be addressed by former NUM General Secretary and current ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe.

A life well lived and to be remembered

During his childhood days comrade Nkosiphendule Kolisile demonstrated traits of being a caring human being who would one day be a people’s leader and a beacon of hope to many others. His footprint in politics started when he joined Gold Fields Security Limited (now known as Sibanye Gold Protection Services) as a security guard. Due to his class consciousness, he became aware of the segregation and inequality that was rife in the mining industry by then, and was part of the initiative to mobilise and organise his colleagues in the company and the mine to ensure that security workers were also unionised. Under his leadership, the first branch of NUM in Gold Fields Security was established with him being elected as the first Branch Chairperson and Edward Molete as Branch Secretary. Through his interaction with many others in the revolutionary struggle, his interest in the working class politics was further strengthened by different political literature. He cut his teeth in the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) as a disciplined and committed communist. He rose through the ranks of the Party holding various positions including being the Gauteng SACP Provincial Chairperson.

His activism and principled stance saw comrade Kholisile being part of the Merafong Demarcation Forum in Khutsong that fought against incorporation of Merafong to the North West. He led this struggle and remained true to the cause of the people for he understood that the destiny of each community was and will always be in its own hands. Through his leadership and negotiating skills, comrade Kholisile was very instrumental in the reincorporation of Merafong to Gauteng Province. He was also active in the structures of the African National Congress where he served as the member of the regional executive committee in the West Rand. His exemplary leadership was further confirmed when the branches of the ANC elected him as the Regional Deputy Chairperson of the West Rand. Comrade Kolisile also served the people of Gauteng as a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature where he was the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Economic Development. He was later appointed as the MEC for Economic Development where he brought a radical approach to Economic Development in the province. MEC Kholisile understood that the second economy plays a pivotal role in the livelihood of many township economies. The partnership with informal traders was a demonstration of his commitment to build inclusive economy in Gauteng.

Icon of social responsibility

As a caring human being and a considerate leader, the late Nkosiphendule Kholisile participated in a number of projects that sought to improve the quality of life for the poor and the working class and restore the dignity of the most marginalised and vulnerable of our society. As an activist for development he started a project at Mohlakeng in Randfontein with the local government leadership executive and other stakeholders to provide decent housing to the needy families, and also encouraged advancement of self-sustainability within society through creativity and innovation.

Media is invited to attend and report

For more information, please contact:
Xhathisile Hermans : 078 456 2047: NUM Branch Secretary at Sibanye Gold Protection Services.
Livhuwani Mammburu: 083 809 3257-Acting NUM National Spokesman 

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Source Url: http://www.num.org.za/News/tabid/91/entryid/120/former-num-general-secretary-and-current-anc-secretary-general-gwede-mantashe-to-address-a-memorial-lecture-in-honour-of-the-late-nkosiphendule-kolisile.aspx
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About Us
The National Union of Mineworkers was founded in 1982.

Its birth was facilitated by comrades Cyril Ramaphosa who rose to be its first General Secretary, James Motlatsi who turned to be its first President, and Elijah Barayi who became its Vice President and later the President of Cosatu in 1985 when the federation was formed. porn