Pretoria – Struggle stalwart John Beaver (JB) Marks worked with immeasurable commitment and dedication to ensure that the ideals of the Freedom Charter, which proclaim that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, were achieved, said President Jacob Zuma.
“We have come together to celebrate the life of a distinguished South African who was totally committed and dedicated to freedom, equality, justice and human rights for all,” President Zuma said on Sunday.
Speaking at the official reburial of Marks in the North West, he said South Africa’s children and youth should be educated about Marks who hated racism and the oppression of people because of the colour of their skin.
JB Marks died in exile while living in Russia in the 1970s. He was buried in Moscow in the Novodevichy cemetery with struggle hero Moses Kotane.
Their remains arrived back in the country earlier this month and a special reception to welcome them back was held at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.
The official ceremony for the reburial of Marks’ remains was held at Tshing Sports Ground in Ventersdorp, North West, on Sunday.
“Comrade Marks in particular, was one of the leaders who played a key role in the Communist Party-led anti-pass campaign of 1944,” President Zuma said.
In 1946, Marks led the strike for mineworkers which mobilised between 60 000 and 70 000 workers, demanding improved working conditions, such as a statutory minimum wage, as well as the elimination of the compound system and the tribal divisions of the workforce.
At the time, he was the Chairperson of Council for Non-European Trade Unions.
“The success of Comrade JB Marks was remarkable. He had managed to mobilise workers from various countries from Southern Africa under one banner and purpose.
“He raised their level of political consciousness and collapsed the nationality and tribal divisions that the system had imposed to prevent collective action,” President Zuma said.
He said through the Mining Charter that was adopted in 2004, government had sought to work with mining houses to improve the living conditions of mineworkers so that what Marks fought for could be achieved in totality.
President Zuma said government had started a programme that was aimed at revitalising mining towns.
A total of R 2.1 billion has been ring-fenced for the programme with R290 million approved for Informal Settlement Upgrading in Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, Northern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State.
One-hundred and thirty-three informal settlements were being assessed or prepared for upgrading through the National Upgrade Support Programme.
Thirty-two settlements are being upgraded and 87 housing projects are being implemented across the prioritised mining towns.
“As part of the transformation process, the Mining Charter enjoined the holders of Mining Rights or Mining Companies to meet certain commitments by the end of last year.
“They were to convert or upgrade hostels into family units, to attain the occupancy rate of one person per room in the living quarters and to facilitate home ownership options for mine workers,” President Jacob Zuma said.
Thee assessment of the progress made by the companies in meeting the Mining Charter commitments was underway and a final report was due by the end of April.
President Zuma said the people of Ventersdorp should be proud that Marks will be reburied in the town.
The reburial should open a new chapter of unity, reconciliation and healing in the town, President Zuma said.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi thanked government for bringing back the mortal remains of Marks and Kotane.
He said Marks’ family should be proud that he would be remembered by many generations as one of the heroes who laid the foundation for the freedom the country enjoyed today.
South African Communist Party (SACP) Deputy General Secretary Solly Mapaila described Marks as a man who was willing to admit his own mistakes and correct them. – SAnews.gov.za
