Statement by the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress
It is with deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss that the African National Congress announces the death of Comrade Johnstone Mfanafuthi Makatini. Comrade Makatini, popularly known as `Johnny' was director of the ANC's Department of International Affairs and a long-standing member of our National Executive Committee. He passed away on December 3, 1988, at 12.00 hours Greenwich Mean Time after a short illness. He had been admitted to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, the previous Tuesday with complications arising from a diabetic condition from which he has been suffering during the past year.
Born in Durban on February 8, 1932, Johnny was a bright and gifted child, and a talented debater at school. He was articulate, with an aptitude for languages - qualities he developed from his mother, Mama Jali, who was a well-known radio personality.
Johnny attended high school at Adams College, Natal, where he was one of the soccer stars. Upon matriculating, he went on to train as a teacher. He taught at Mzinyathi in the Inanda area, and was soon active in organising opposition to the imposition of Bantu Education in African schools. Rather than serve under this hated system, he resigned from the teaching profession and registered as a part-time law student at Natal University. He devoted the rest of his time to organising the people as an activist of the ANC, becoming a key youth and student organiser around Durban and in the rural areas of Natal. He was actively involved in all the ANC campaigns of the period and was arrested on numerous occasions. Johnny was one of the principal organisers of both the historic Pietermaritzburg Conference of March 1961, which was addressed by Nelson Mandela, and the highly successful anti-fascist Republic strike of May 1961.
In 1962, Johnny was among the first group of volunteers from Natal to be sent out of the country for military training. In Johannesburg they were joined by volunteers from other parts of the country and Johnny, assisted by Joseph Jack, was put in charge of the combined group. Nelson Mandela, the `Black Pimpernel', gave the group a staggering shock when, wearing a holster with a pistol and looking like an accomplished soldier, he suddenly walked into a room in Dar es Salaam, interrupting a song about him which the group were singing, believing him to be in South Africa. Johnny often referred to that incident, claiming that he nearly fainted.
Johnny led part of the group to Morocco, with instructions that on completion of the training he should remain in Morocco to receive new groups of trainees, which meant he was our representative in that country. This was the beginning of a record of diplomatic work in the service of the people of South Africa that today stands unsurpassed.
Trudging the streets of Rabat on an empty stomach and thrown out by one landlord after another for unpaid rent, Johnny nonetheless quickly lapped up the French language and within a year he spoke it with surprising fluency. This proved invaluable and fed into his inexhaustible zeal for discussing apartheid and the struggle with everyone he met, for 24 hours if necessary. It gave him access to the vast French and English speaking world, which he exploited to the full.
In Morocco he worked and struck a close friendship with leaders of liberation movements from the then Portuguese colonies, among them Marcelino Dos Santos of Mozambique, Dr. Agostinho Neto of Angola and Amilcar Cabral of Guinea-Bissau.
In 1963, Algeria became independent. An ANC mission was promptly opened in Algeria, headed by Robert Resha, a member of the National Executive of the ANC. Johnny, his vision of the struggle broadened and deepened by fraternal association with freedom fighters from other African countries, was transferred to join Robbie Resha in Algeria. The two made a dynamic partnership. Algeria, which hosted many liberation movements, mainly from Africa and including the Palestine Liberation Organisation, was a beehive of political activity involving solidarity support for the liberation struggle. Robbie and Johnny proved more than equal to the challenge. The status of the ANC in Algeria rocketed.
Apart from his close friendship with freedom fighters whose countries later became independent, Johnny was an active and leading member of the Pan-African Youth Movement, most of whose members went on to hold important positions in government.
In 1966, Johnny succeeded Robert Resha as Chief Representative in Algeria, and soon extended the activities of his mission to cover France, where he became a well-known personality in the circles of the solidarity movement. By this time he was beginning to emerge as one of the ANC's most accomplished diplomats. From his Algerian base he invaded Western Europe, often shooting down meetings the ANC considered detrimental to our cause. In 1974, Johnny became a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC. He was already a well-known figure in Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and United Nations circles, where he earned a well-deserved reputation as an articulate champion of the cause of our people. It was these qualities that contributed to his appointment as head of the ANC mission to the United Nations in 1977 and later, in 1983, as head of our Department of International Affairs.
Johnny's unique flair for diplomatic work flowered during his years at the United Nations. No UN diplomat did not know Johnny Makatini and few escaped his persuasive tongue. The point was even reached when some accused the ANC of dominating the United Nations.
While establishing strong relationships with government representatives, organisations and people from all corners of the world, and particularly in Africa, Johnny paid special attention to the solidarity movement in the United States, winning millions of friends and supporters for our struggle, not least among them the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
After the 1985 National Consultative Conference of the ANC, Johnny transferred to Lusaka to give personal attention to his departmental responsibilities.
Johnny Makatini was an indefatigable organiser and campaigner on behalf of the African National Congress. He worked tirelessly and travelled ceaselessly on our work throughout Africa and to many parts of the world in pursuit of a single goal - the liberation of our people. This took its toll on his health, and despite the appeals and remonstrations of his colleagues, he stubbornly persisted with a rigorous schedule of appointments and meetings. The very weekend before he was hospitalised he had returned from strenuous missions to Nigeria, Mali and Egypt, which he had continued with even when he started feeling unwell.
With the departure of Comrade Johnny Makatini, the African National Congress and the oppressed people of South Africa have lost a most dedicated and talented fighter and leader who gave his whole life in the service of his people and country. His passing leaves a gap in our ranks which will be difficult to fill. His shining qualities will continue to inspire his colleagues and the younger generation with the added determination to complete his life's work.
Comrade Johnstone Mfanafuthi Makatini is survived by his wife, Valerie, and a five-year-old daughter, Nandi, as well as by his mother, three brothers, and a sister.
To his entire family the National Executive Committee of the ANC expresses its heartfelt condolences.