Thursday, 9 August 2024:- The South African Communist Party (SACP) extends its deepest condolences to the family of Comrade Nkosinathi Theledi, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the entire progressive working-class movement.

The loss of Comrade Nathi Theledi, as he was fondly called, whose lifeless body was tragically found on Thursday, 1 August 2024, in Mpumalanga Province, is a profound blow to the struggle for workers' rights and justice in our country. The SACP strongly condemns this heinous act and calls for a thorough investigation to go to the root of the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Theledi's funeral will take place on Saturday, 10 August 2024 in Vleesboom, Nebo, in Sekhukhune Land, Limpopo Province, at 9AM

Comrade Nathi was a progressive trade unionist, a dedicated servant of the working class for the final emancipation of the people as a whole, a tireless advocate for the oppressed and a stalwart in the fight for a just and equal society.

Born in Middleburg, formerly in the Eastern Transvaal, and raised in Limpopo, formerly Northern Transvaal, he carried with him the revolutionary spirit of resistance and a deep commitment to the struggle against injustice from a young age. His career in the sectors organised by POPCRU started in the Department of Correctional Services in 1986. His political consciousness for a revolution was marked by his unwavering stand against the unfair treatment of his colleagues, especially African workers, and the inhumane treatment of political detainees.

Theledi's resistance and courage led to his transfer to the Correctional Services Training College in Cullinan, in Pretoria, where his commitment to justice did not diminish, but only deepened. Over the years, Comrade Nathi played a critical role in shaping POPCRU, from his early days as Institutional Secretary at Zonderwater to his leadership as Regional Secretary in Pretoria and later as Provincial Co-ordinator of Gauteng. His leadership was instrumental in guiding the union through the challenging transitions of the post-apartheid era, particularly in the realms of collective bargaining and labour relations.

Theledi's intellectual and academic pursuits were as remarkable as his activism. His dedication to understanding and advancing the rights of workers was reflected in his academic achievements as a worker leader, including a B. Tech. in Labour Relations and M. Tech. studies.

He later focused on the life and times of former SACP General Secretary Joe Slovo, attending every annual Joe Slovo commemoration as part of his data gathering activities for analysis in his post-graduate research. His scholarly work was not merely an academic exercise, but a continuation of his lifelong commitment to the struggle for a transition to a society where the exploitation of one person by another will be eliminated. That is a socialist society.

Theledi's contributions to the progressive labour movement, his strategic acumen, and his negotiations skills made him a revered leader within POPCRU, COSATU and the broader working-class movement. His loss leaves a void that will be deeply felt, but his legacy will continue to inspire those who fight for the rights of workers and the oppressed. Under POPRCU's collective leadership, with Theledi serving as the General Secretary, the union donated a building to the SACP for use as its future headquarters, a decision that the communist movement will forever cherish.

As we mourn the untimely passing of Comrade Nkosinathi Theledi, we honour his memory by recommitting ourselves to the struggle for which he gave his life. We stand in solidarity with his family, comrades and the workers of South Africa, and we pledge to carry forward his unwavering commitment to justice, equality and the complete emancipation of the working class.

Hamba kahle, Comrade Nkosinathi Theledi. Your revolutionary spirit will forever guide us in our continued fight for a better South Africa and universal emancipation.

Issued by the South African Communist Party,
Founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa.

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