Remarks By The Chief Whip At The Memorial Service Of Imam Gassin Solomon In Parliament, Cape Town

5 November 2009

We are gathered here today to mourn the passing away of one of the greatest sons of our struggle for the liberation of the downtrodden masses of our people from the shackles of apartheid oppression and racial discrimination.

We are also gathered here as friends, comrades and colleagues to pay tribute to one of our own – a stalwart of our glorious movement, the African National Congress, whose passing undoubtedly left a gap within our ranks that will not be easy to fill.

This is because until his sad death on Tuesday 27 October 2009, Imam Gassan Solomon upheld both in words and deeds, the ideals and values of the Movement. His entire life was dedicated to the fight for justice, fundamental freedoms and rights for all the people of South Africa.

Imam Solomon was a revolutionary and a unifier whose compassion for humanity and desire for a free South Africa, inspired by the noble teachings and humane precepts of the Islam religion and deep political consciousness, made him one of the great and respected leaders in this province over a period of many years.

As a Muslim community activist, Imam Solomon transcended religious boundaries in the struggle for the freedom of religion, opinion, beliefs, association, movement and expression.
Testifying in 1997 at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Imam Solomon quoted from the profound 1961 declaration of the coalition of religious anti-apartheid formations in the Western Cape, which was to inform his vision for the liberation struggle.

He said “For too long a time now have we been together with our fellow sufferers subjugated, suffered humiliation of being regarded as being inferior beings, deprived of our basic right to earn, to learn and to worship according to the divine rule of God. We can no longer tolerate further encroachment on these, our basic rights and therefore we stand firm with our brothers in fighting the evil monster that is about to devour us, that is oppression, tyranny and baska."

This profound declaration strengthened the view held by Imam Solomon and his fellow activists in the Muslim Judicial Council that the political struggles of the Muslim community cannot be divorced from those of rest of the oppressed masses of this country.

It was this resolve that earned him and many other brave freedom fighters a place within the ranks of the anti-apartheid movement, the ANC and the United Democratic Front. He was amongst those priests who demonstrated through concrete action that there was no contradiction between religion and politics. As the first Imam of the Claremont Main Road Mosque in 1979, he was amongst those who formed the United Democratic front in the Western Cape.

The marriage of the struggles of the Muslim anti-apartheid formations and the mass democratic movement saw the intensification of the anti-apartheid programmes in the Western Cape, which included the widespread protests against the repressive legislations, chief amongst which was the notorious Group Areas Act – which sought to attack the free religious practice and other basic freedoms.

Imam Solomon was amongst those who were unshaken in the belief that under no circumstances should Muslims apply to the government for a permit to perform prayers in Mosques that have been left in proclaimed white areas.

As an activist and leader within the Muslim Judicial Council, the ANC and the UDF, Imam Solomon was also instrumental in the mobilisation of many anti-apartheid mass campaigns, including those that opposed the Tricameral Parliament elections and called for the release of Nelson Mandela.

Like many of our freedom fighters, Imam Solomon fought the repressive minority regime both inside and outside the South African borders.

After spending a period in exile, he formed part of the first generation of the ANC Members of Parliament of the democratic and free South Africa in 1994.

The many freedoms that we enjoy today, such as those relating to religion, expression, association and movement are a result of the many years of struggle waged by brave men and women of the calibre of Iman Solomon. We pay tribute for his wise counsel, prudent stewardship and compassionate leadership demonstrated throughout his tenure as ANC MP and activist in the Western Cape.

We had hoped to continue benefiting from Imam Solomon’s vast political experience and knowledge, particularly here in the Western Cape, where he was deployed into the ANC Task Team.

As we pay tribute to Imam Solomon’s revolutionary life today, we also wish to pay homage to his family for their sacrifices, understanding and support.

Robala Ka Khutšo Imam Solomon!

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