Statement by the African National Congress(1)
The African National Congress regrets to announce the death of Comrade Robert Resha, a leading member of the national liberation movement of South Africa. His funeral was held in London where he died after a brief illness.
His outstanding qualities are best expressed in the following statement on December 17, 1973, by His Excellency Edwin Ogbu, Chairman of the United Nations Special Committee on Apartheid and Nigerian ambassador in the United Nations:
"Mr. Resha is very well-known to the members of the United Nations Special Committee on Apartheid as an able and dedicated leader of the liberation movement of the African people of South Africa. To many of us `Robbie' was also an intimate friend.
"Mr. Resha, born in 1920, has been a militant of the African National Congress for more than thirty years. He rarely spoke of his own outstanding contribution to the struggle and identified himself entirely with the ANC, in good times and hard times, with perseverance and courage.
"He worked in the mines, as a journalist and in various other professions. He knew his people well and became a popular leader.
"He was for several years secretary of the African National Congress in the Transvaal. He was leader of the volunteers in the historic campaign of Defiance against Unjust Laws in 1952. He led many struggles of the African people, notably the struggle against the uprooting of the African people by force from the Sophiatown area of Johannesburg.
"In 1956, with other leaders of the ANC and allied groups, he was charged with `high treason'. As an accused in this notorious trial for four and a half years, he stood steadfast by his convictions and never wavered.
"Shortly after acquittal he went into exile at the request of the ANC, to join Mr. Oliver Tambo and others in rallying international support for the struggle of the people of South Africa when they were obliged to resort to underground and armed struggle in the face of the brutality of the South African regime.
"He became the ANC representative in Algiers and was placed in charge of activity in Europe and North America. He was a member of the first delegation of the ANC which appeared before the Special Committee in August 1963. Since then he has been invited on numerous occasions to participate in the meetings of the Special Committee and for consultations with the Special Committee and its missions. He has also appeared before the Special Political Committee of the General Assembly and the African Group at the United Nations and in numerous conferences.
"He showed tremendous energy, resourcefulness and wisdom, in all his activities - in publicising the struggle of his people, in organising assistance to the victims of apartheid and in promoting support to the resistance in South Africa. Despite all the odds, he had unshakeable faith in the destiny of his people. He was a freedom fighter who was always prepared to risk his comfort and even life for the freedom and dignity of the oppressed people of South Africa.
"I have known Robbie in Africa and in the United Nations. He was a dear friend and I find it hard to believe that he is no more.
"He has helped us to understand the extent of the inhumanity of apartheid and to appreciate and respect the heroic struggle of the people of South Africa for their inalienable rights. We will always cherish his memory and stand by his people.
"On behalf of the Committee I would like to convey its sorrow to his wife, Mrs. Magdalene Resha, herself a leader of the ANC and of the Pan African Women's Congress, and to his children - and to the liberation movement to which he dedicated his life, the African National Congress of South Africa.
"We would like to reaffirm to them the Special Committees determination to do all in its power to bring closer the day when the racist criminals will be punished and the people of South Africa will be enabled to join the peoples of the rest of Africa and the world in freedom."
* * * * *
We, of the African National Congress, join His Excellency in conveying our deepest sympathies to his wife Magdalene, his children and all his family.
We rededicate ourselves to continue the struggle in which Robbie played such a prominent part and are sure that his name will forever live indelibly in the history of our country.
Hamba Kahle!
Amandla! Maatla!
1. 2 From: Sechaba,
March 1974.
Letter by Nelson Mandela from Robben Island prison to Mrs. Resha, January 1974
Our dear Maggie,
It seems that the old and stable world we once knew so well is beginning to crumble...leaving us with nothing but painful memories... The commanding figures who kept us together in difficult times and who helped to show the way forward are no more...
Today it is the death of Robbie that we mourn, and we write to give you our deepest sympathy... Few will deny that our Robbie was a man who left behind an impressive record... He was a man capable of making sacrifices and played a significant role in the development of the present outlook which gives direction to our dreams... It is men like these who make the human race move forward; who can educate, persuade, arouse, inspire and without whom progress would have been impossible... We would like you to know that tomorrow we have to gather the rich harvest of laurels planted by all those who have gone before us. When that day comes Robbie will count as one of those who played a key role... He lives in our hearts.
All have asked me to convey to you and the family their condolences.
Love and fondest regards from all of us.
Sincerely,
Nel.