The ANC National Executive committee has learnt with shock and sadness of the death of veteran leader of the ANC and former trade unionist, Mark Shope, who passed away after a long illness in the early hours of Tuesday 2 June in the Northern Province.
Shope cut his political teeth in the trade union movement, being elected Secretary and later Chairperson of the then Laundry Workers Union. His meteoric rise within the trade union movement saw him elected Chairperson of then South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU). At the same time, Shope was an executive committee member and Chairperson of the ANC White City branch in the 50's. After the banning of the movement in 60's, Shope was slapped with a five-year banning order.
Shope was not deterred in his commitment to the working class and the liberation struggle in general. He left the country in the early 'sixties to join the movement in exile. He underwent further trade union training in the then Czechoslovakia.
While in Czechoslovakia, he enrolled for military training under the auspices of our former military wing Umkhonto We Sizwe. On his return to Africa, Shope continued with his trade union activities as a National Executive Committee member of SACTU while facilitating lessons on the history of our struggle in MK military camps.
Shope's contribution to the reconstruction and development of our country will be sorely missed by the entire liberation movement. Yet Shope died with the full knowledge that the movement which he served throughout his life has laid a firm foundation for the creation of a better life for all our people.
The ANC National Executive Committee dips its banners in solemn memory of Mark Shope. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife Getrude, his children and members of the bereaved family.
Issued by ANC Deputy Secretary-General, Thenjiwe Mtintso
For more info contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853.
Department of Information and Publicity,
P.O. Box 61884,
Marshalltown 2107,
2 June 1998
3 June 1998
COSATU mourns the loss of one of the veterans of the South African Trade Union and liberation struggle, Comrade Mark Shope.
Cde Mark Shope was the former General Secretary of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU). SACTU, formed in 5 January 1955 was the first non-racial trade union federation in South Africa. SACTU was also part of the Congress Alliance of the 1950's. It took part in the Congress of the People, which adopted the historic Freedom Charter on 26 June 1955. He represented SACTU at the World Federation of Trade Unions, which was based in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
He was the founder member of Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and also of the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordinating Council (SATUCC).
He was a self-taught educator. This was evident by the fact that he was for a long time heading the education department of SACTU. He was a commissar in the people's army Umkhonto Wesizwe. He was taught to read and write by the Communist party. He was one of South Africa's outstanding working class intellectuals, who embraced the revolutionary philosophy of Marxism-Leninism.
Cde Shope was a staunch internationalist and a close friend of the former Soviet Union and other socialist countries including CUBA. He represented the South African Congress of Trade Unions at all the international trade union and labour conferences, particularly the ILO annual Conferences. He was primarily instrumental in training trade union cadres from home during the underground struggle in exile, and also in the underground structures internally.
As an MK soldier, he was amongst the first MK people who went for training in the Soviet Union. He was a leading member of the South African Communist Party alongside Comrades such as JB Marks, Moses Kotane, Moses Mabida and Joe Slovo. He was an active member of the Congress Alliance led by the ANC. He represented the ANC in Nigeria as a Chief Representative to garner support from Nigerians to support the SA Struggle.
When he returned from exile, he was chosen as an honorary president of the now defunct Post and Telecommunications Workers' Association (POTWA) which is now known as the Communications Workers' Union.
COSATU salutes the contribution that Cde Mark made to the trade union and the national liberation struggle. The untimely and tragic loss of Cde Mark will be deeply felt by the Mass Democratic Movement in our country. In the various struggles that were waged by the ANC and its allies Comrade Mark Shope was always in the forefront.
We extend our very deepest condolences to Comrade Gertrude Shope, their children, family members and friends. We commend the important role that the whole family played in the fight against apartheid colonialism.
HAMBA KAHLE MARK SHOPE!!! THE DEAN OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN LABOUR MOVEMENT!
Nowetu Mpati
COSATU Head of Communications
Tel: + 27 + 11 + 339-4911
Fax: + 27 + 11 + 339-2281
E-mail: nowetu@cosatu.org.za