Tribute to a great hero of our struggle

Ilanga litshone emini when I heard of the passing away of one of the great giants of our liberation struggle, Tatu Sipho Hina, on October 6 at home. I have learnt politics from this struggle stalwart, who was a teacher, a mentor and a father to me. The street where he lived (Malakane Street) in New Brighton has produced combatants and heroes of our liberation struggle. The likes of Tatu Hina and Tatu Rwentela and his son, Nolali Rwentela, who were all incarcerated on Robben Island. Hina was an outstanding revolutionary, a selfless and dedicated combatant, and a much-respected and admired leader of our people . Tatu Hina dedicated his entire life to the cause of freedom, and was an embodiment of the revolutionary alliance of the ANC, SACP and the progressive labour movement. The passing of Tatu Hina will leave a void in the ranks of the ANC, the alliance and the mass democratic movement in general, that will not be easy to fill. In him, we have lost a leader, a comrade, a father, a true revolutionary who epitomised dedication and humility, who served as a benchmark for revolutionary discipline that is expected of the cadres of the ANC, a friend and a mentor. Sipho Hina was first detained during the 1960 state of emergency here in Port Elizabeth. He was arrested and tried in 1964, sentenced to Robben Island. Upon his release in 1967, he was banned. He was re-detained in 1977 under the Terrorism Act and tortured by members of the Port Elizabeth Security Branch. He was detained again in 1983 under the Internal Security Act and tortured by the Security Branch.Tatu Hina was tried for treason in 1983 and sentenced to Robben Island and was later released in 1991.

He was part of the leadership after the unbanning of the liberation movements and was elected, in the early 1990s as ANC chairman of the New Brighton branch, with more than 22 000 membership, and elected to the ANC Veteran’s League provincial executive committee of the Eastern Cape, where he was still an active leader. I had the privilege to serve in a committee that arranged his welcome party in December 1991. He endured a generation of incarceration under the apartheid regime together with fellow heroes of our nation and he managed to play a valued public role as our democracy took root. His death robs us of yet another hero – a member of a splendid, unforgettable generation. Indeed, for us, Tatu Sipho Fielden Hina was synonymous with the unflinching sacrifices, even at a great personal cost in the quest for freedom, peace and justice in our country. Like a flower, Tatu Hina’s memory will forever blossom in the hearts of the entire South Africa. Our country has seen the dawn of freedom and justice due to the selflessness and unwavering commitment of leaders of the calibre of Sipho Hina. His outstanding leadership skills will be sadly missed by all of us, young and old, who benefited from his unparallelled wisdom. The ANC dips its banner in solemn tribute to a great son of Africa, a hero among heroes. We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Hina family, friends, and to the many comrades and colleagues with whom we share this loss. We commit ourselves to pick up his spear and forge ahead with the struggle for the betterment of our people’s lives.