Pretoria – Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has credited struggle heroes Moses Kotane and JB Marks for laying a foundation for the relationship between Russia and South Africa.
“Russia supported our struggle unconditionally… these two leaders were laying a foundation for this relationship between Russia and South Africa,” Minister Mthethwa said.
Speaking in Moscow during the memorial service of the struggle stalwarts, Minister Mthethwa said Marks and Kotane were the bones that bind South Africa and Russia.
A wreath laying ceremony was also held for the struggle heroes in Moscow on Thursday.
“It’s no accident today that in this second phase of our transition which is the economic transformation phase… that Russia and South Africa are part of and parcel of BRICS because BRICS is there as counter measure politically and economically of what is happening in the world today,” Minister Mthethwa said.
He was in Moscow to repatriate the mortal remains of Marks and Kotane who both died in exile while living in Russia in the 1970s.
“To the people of Russia and the Russian government, invoke what we said during our dark times, that Russian people you are loving people. Here we are far from home, we shall love you, we shall need you for the things you have done for us,” Minister Mthethwa said.
He said Kotane and Marks represented and embodied the entire revolutionary movement.
“These two giants represent the spirit of struggle, the spirit of triumph of good over evil; they represent the foremost revolutionary movement in our country which led the liberation of our people in our country,” he said.
President Jacob Zuma had tasked the Department of Arts and Culture to lead and coordinate the repatriation and reburial of Kotane and Marks.
The remains of the struggle heroes were expected to arrive back in the country on Sunday.
A special reception to welcome back the remains of the struggle stalwarts will be held at Waterkloof Air Force Base.
Kotane and Marks were both buried in Moscow in the Novodevichy cemetery. – SAnews.gov.za
