The South African Federation of Trade Unions is saddened by Membathisi Shepherd Mdladlana’s passing. We deep our revolutionary red flags to honour his memory and his struggles for the emancipation of the working class and the marginalised majority.
He was born in the rural Eastern Cape in Keiskamahoek 72 years ago. He was a school teacher who became a no-nonsense principal and a trade unionist who became the founding President of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU). Membathisi Mdladlana’s name will be etched in the memories of educators and workers in our county into eternity.
Comrade Mdladlana was one of the most honest servants of the working class, whose name is not associated with any kind of betrayal of his people and the working class. He represented the original values of the once mighty parliament of the masses of the people, the ANC. He was an embodiment of uBuntu, which expressed solidarity, selflessness, sacrifices, including the willingness to put his own life on the line for the common good of the masses. Comrade Sheppey, as the earlier generation fondly called him, was not those typical self-serving chest-beating career politicians who only do anything if personal glory and self-gratification await. He was one of the most prominent faces of the struggle for a Peoples Education, following in Matthew Goniwe’s and countless others’ footsteps. Comrade Mdladlana distinguished himself as the leader of the teacher’s movement, which became one of the growing trade unions and household names. The ANC and the SACP can attest that there was hardly any branch in urban or rural areas without an educator playing an essential role in rebuilding these movements after the unbanning.
Membathisi was a vital ally of the trade union movement, popularly known as the enforcer. Sadly, he passed away on the eve of the funeral of Tito Mboweni, who laid the foundations for the transformation of the apartheid/colonial apartheid labour market. Membathisi used that largely progressive framework to be the enforcer. He crisscrossed the length and breadth of the country, moving from farm to small workplaces and everywhere to enforce the labour laws.
The most verkrampte bosses who wanted to leave in the past. Ordinary workers loved him as they saw him as an ally who would not compromise their rights at the altar of bribes. Mdladlana was incorruptible. He is going to his grave with a clean record of service to his people. Regrettably, Membathisi Mdladlana was to become a victim of what we can only refer to as the moment of madness where only loyalty to a faction was regarded as vital to deploy comrades to important positions. He was removed as the Minister and posted as an Ambassador.
Despite this personal setback, the working class never sought to compromise his principles. For all this, we salute his legacy and hope future generations emulate his good examples. Hamba kahle Zizi elimnyama nenkomo zalo, ngxili inoboya, Dlamini, Dlamini, Mzizi, Mzondo, Ntsele, Luzipho, Mhlambiso, Bhungane.
