Mr.Thabo Mbeki
President
Republic of South Africa
President
African National Congress
of South Africa

May, 6, 2003
Moscow

Dear comrade Mbeki!

On behalf of hundreds of thousands of members of the Russian Communist Party and millions of supporters of the People's Patriotic Union of Russia I con-vey to you and to all leaders and members of the African National Congress our heartfelt condolences on the occasion of passing away of one of the giants of the national liberation movement, the former Secretary General of the ANC and a political prisoner Comrade Walter Sisulu.

We knew him not only as one of the great heroes of the anti-apartheid struggle but as a good friend of our country. He has visited the Soviet Union in 1953 and again nearly 40 years later, in 1990. And every visit helped to bring our coun-tries and our peoples closer.

He will remain for us an embodiment of a person who is prepared to place all his energy and wisdom, to sacrifice all that he possesses for the triumph of the noble idea of human equality and dignity. The new South Africa liberated from the evil of apartheid is a magnificent monument to this great son of Africa.

His bright image will rest forever in the minds of his friends in Russia.

Please convey our deep condolences to Comrade Albertina and to Comrade Walter Sisulu's children and grandchildren, to all his relatives and friends.

Gennady Zyuganov,
Chairman, People's Patriotic Union of Russia
Chairman of the Central Committee
Communist Party of the Russian Federation