(What a remarkable journey...!!!)... Cdes Willem Basson , Timothy Layman can you tell who the Author is? Randi Erentzen ‘Passes Over’: The Class of 1988, from UWC to Zimbabwe and Beyond: ’If Truth be Told’…HIStory…Your Story…My Story…Our Story…’Warts and All’… Edited Version of a very rewarding Journey: A Last and Final Tribute… Hamba Kahle Randi Erentzen…comrade, lecturer, mentor and friend... Thank you for your contribution in my life...in our lives...Using your exact phrasing, in our last text chat you wanted us to talk about daai trip Zim toe...with Willem Base Basson, Burton Joseph, Melissa Shanjengange (Namibia), Lionel Lambert, Nigel Hannies, Henry Hockey, Raymond Du Plessis, Patrick Stofpad, Denise Daniels, Lorna Daniels, Hein, Gert (Namibia), Scholar, our reliable driver the late Boeta Willa Hanekom and others, as my memory fails me, but I did the best I could. (Comrades please complete list if you wish). As historians first, this story must to be told, as I’m sure Randi would have wished. Therefore, Im doing so now to the best of my ability with a recollection of memory, some research and analysis. This story is probably narrated for the very first time in this particular way. We know that Randi was a meticulous and ardent crafter of words and use of language, both spoken and written. He would have also done so Warts and All...as he would have exclaimed. He would also probably have started in this way...If truth be told...the Zimbabwe initiative (of Randi) was probably the catalyst and turning point for my development and those of others...it was the first broader Southern African experience for almost all of us...However, it went much further in the bigger scheme of developments within the country, the Southern African region and even internationally (government of Sweden also acknowledged). Randi, you led us, as young students, across the border on our historical expedition to Zimbabwe (Harare and Bulawayo) in 1988, during the dark days of vicious Apartheid rule. You, our organic African historian, virtually took me under your wing from near obscurity as the most junior among seniors...to kiss the fertile soil of the then great... and free Zimbabwe of Comrade (Cde) President Robert Mugabe...to meet and hold discussions with our leadership in the African National Congress (ANC) in exile, namely, Cde Thabo Mbeki and the late Cde Steve Tswete; the ZANU PF Youth League; and victorious soldiers of the late Cde Fidel Castros powerful Cuban armed forces who had just handed the Apartheid South African Defence Force (SADF) a massive defeat in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola, which marked a turning point in Southern African History (Cde Ronnie Kasrils can attest to this). These border wars is sometimes referred to as ‘Southern Africa’s Cold War’. Cde Onelio (Cuba) and others relayed this siege where SADF tanks blew up and flew in the air, while Boer soldiers crawled on the ground (caught with comforting chocolates and dolls)...We celebrated this major victory by the joint Cuban/FAPLA forces over the SADF /UNITA alliance with loads of Vodka well into the night. This battle being a turning point, brought the border war to an end and led to the peace negotiations that saw the withdrawal of the SADF, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) – MK (Armed Wing of the ANC) and Cuban forces from Angola and Namibia and led to the independence of Namibia. Cde President Nelson Mandela spoke of the battle as, ‘a turning point for the liberation of our continent and my people’. We also met leading intellectuals at the University of Zimbabwe, among other relevant missions. At a high profile, we held our own with pride. Yes, we returned with our intellectual fountains more watered and confident than ever before. We were more convinced that given the objective conditions at the time, our ‘New Strategic Line of March’, our Path to Power in the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) was the correct one...Utilising a combination of multiple forms of struggle…by attacking the enemy on all fronts for the Final Offensive, that is, (1) Organised Revolutionary Mass Action and Struggle as Key; (2) Combined with Strong Revolutionary Underground Structures; (3) Armed Guerrilla Warfare and Struggle; (4) Garnering International Support; (5) and the prospect of a Negotiated Settlement, which had already started on a small scale at the time, and had become a real possibility. We defended our ‘Path to Power’ and NDR vehemently. ZANU PF just knew about bush war, which was inappropriate for us as a sole strategic advance. I would think that many of us had matured intellectually and politically on this expedition...I certainly did… On return, we were made to lay prostrate at the border amidst South African Boer military artillery pointed at our heads...but we were fearless and hardened...We were armed with what we regarded as ‘Our Bread of Life’, that is, stocking up on more revolutionary literature which some of us already had access to in clandestine ways...i.e. those of Karl Marx; Vladimir Lenin; Rosa Luxemburg; Antonio Gramsci; Mao Tse-tung; Umsebenzi (Publication of the South African Communist Party – SACP); ANC Publications and other material (smuggled in our luggage), which were banned in this country at the time. Furthermore, due to the exuberance of youth, I had misbehaved on the return leg, to your grave disappointment...of course, I pleaded innocent...and you Randi, disciplined me, and correctly so...not physically, but verbally, although you had the physique of a heavyweight boxer and being an excellent swimmer as well. Due to my somewhat (hidden) defiant, stubborn and mischievous streak, I was then inducted and singled out for special treatment, by being smeared with black nugget all over my face. You kept the photograph and blackmailed me...very good photographer that you were. On entering my home, my mother hardly recognised me, and almost mistook me for a terrorist...And yes Randi, we also had very good times with parties galore! ...And as they say...the rest is history...your story... my story...our story... However, historically and analytically, all this should be seen against the backdrop of major initiatives to prepare to govern and serve our new democracy soon hereafter, which presented many opportunities and challenges for many of us. At this time Randi, during the late 1980s – early 1990s, you were already heading up the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), which at the very beginning stage facilitated initiatives such as the development of the new Constitution and Bill of Rights, under the guardianship of Cde Zola Skweyiya and Cde Brigitte Mabandla; the Macroeconomic Research Group (MERG) & National Institute for Economic Policy (NIEP), which was the ‘Think-Tank’ for the ANC and ‘Government in waiting’. The focus was on: ‘The Role of the State, Governance, Public and Economic Policy and Management, which contributed to the development of the Reconstruction & Development Programme (RDP) and so forth, under the leadership of Cde Vella Pillay (Bank of China), Cde Max Sisulu, Cde Jaya Josie and Cde Job Mokgoro, among others; with the involvement of Cde Zunaid Moolla, myself and many others at historically disadvantaged Universities. You were instrumental in advising on my change in academic direction for further postgraduate studies and working fultime in this most relevant field where I fully immersed myself with invaluable progress. Other students of yours have also made valuable progress to date... Furthermore, Randi, it is significant that your passing coincides with the celebration of twenty years of democracy in South Africa and the 103rd Anniversary of the ANC, particularly after reflecting on the proud history and struggle of our Movement, which is intertwined with yours and many of ours…With this - What is to be done? - As Lenin would have posed. We will try and address this quite frankly, honestly, openly and discuss fervently, as long as we are truthful...For that is the only way we know...As activists, politicians, public servants, professionals, academic scholars, intellectuals and workers, wherever we may find ourselves, we must painstakingly guard and defend the gains that we have made, so that it cannot be rolled back; Furthermore, we need to thoroughly examine the nature and character of the state and it’s role; There is a dire need for the development of new theory in order to take us on a forward on a progressive trajectory faster; We must never fear to Speak Truth to Power; We must always remain vigilant, constructively critical, energised and develop our creativity and innovation to think out of and destroy limiting and confined boxes, so that we operate in enlarged circles in order to enable the correct flowers to bloom and seize the day in the process of thorough intellectual and political debate, combined with the implications of the best praxis available for the long haul...By doing so, we need to ensure that we consistently remain on the Correct ‘Path’ for Transforming, Reconstructing, Developing and Growing this beautiful country of ours… Should we digress, then we must be bold enough to admit this, and re-direct the National Programme and Agenda back on course…or even review and change course altogether if the objective conditions determines this…Our task is too serious and urgent, with rampant poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment, and there were too many sacrifices, therefore, we dare not waver, until we have reached the Promised Land… Furthermore Randi, considering you as a deep spiritual being, it is especially your peers of the 1970s and students of the 1980s who will clearly know and understand that with ‘passing over’: [Randi] has now faithfully “carved all our names in the palm of his hand [forever]”...adapted from his favourite biblical verse, Isaiah 49:16. Herewith, Almighty and Merciful Father, lighten our darkness we beseech Thee...Grant him a crown that will forever shine and shine bright day and night...For having known you so well...as such a good and special soul at the best and worst of times...Randi, we are convinced, and indeed, satisfied that it is well with your soul where you currently reside...Therefore, today, we are particularly gratified that in turn, it is well with our souls... And your beautiful, kind and special spirit will live on within us all...Randolph, Godfather... ’Dogvader’…Oh ye Faithful Servant of God and our Revolution...Your Lord is with you…You have made your contribution…You have played your part…You have touched many lives… Qawe – Leader! We Salute you at the Last Post...Rest in Eternal Peace and Rise in Glory... Amandla Ngawethu – Matla ke arona - Power to the People! Mayibuye iAfrica – This Land is Mine! Aluta Continua - The Struggle Continuous!
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 20:56:43 +0000
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