**** *NUMSA STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF LEGENDARY ZIM NGQAWANA*
*11 May 2011* The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (*Numsa*) mourns the passing away of renowned South African Jazz genius and cultural activist Zim Ngqawana. Ngqawana’s saxophone defied nature by taking a human form; his music was an expression of his working class upbringing and consciousness. Though his heart beats no more; his music will be a source of knowledge for many years. His music continues to beat in our heads; it will continue dominating the airwaves for decades to come. His brain has ceased to function; but his music functions in our system; his gifted hands have retired forever; but our hands will forever clap-dance to his music! Ngqawana dies at a critical time whereby our revolutionary songs or heritage are being demonized or written using the organs of class rule, the courts, by the newly found champions of freedom and human rights fellow travelers. Ngqawana was part of a nucleus of cultural activists that used its artistic talent to narrate the daily struggles of our people as perpetuated by the unequal and greedy Capitalist system. His music will continue to be an inspiration in the many class struggles waged by workers and the poor for equitable redistribution of wealth at the point of production and better services for communities of Makhaza and Diepsloot. Ngqawana’s departure to the land of the immortal living in ideas should serve as a call to the ANC-led Alliance to embark on a radical programme to preserve the liberation history and heritage of our country for the benefit of future generations to come. We can’t live in a country that has so much rich history of dispossession and liberation, but that richness is not engraved or adorned in public spaces, instead Whisky or porn adverts are glorified in public displays. By placing revolutionary symbols or heroes in public spaces, it will instill high levels of consciousness amongst our people, especially amongst the young. We find solace in that Ngqawana joins the galaxy of cultural activists in the land of the departed such Vuyisile Mini, Miriam Makeba, Moses ‘Taiwa’ Molelekwa, Sipho Gumede and countless others who died before their talents are recognised and appreciated by many. When we meet them in the not distant future the noble goals of the Freedom Charter would have been accomplished and the lives of our people improved for the better. Ngqawana’s name shall in future be engraved in gold plates for his contribution in deepening working class solidarity through his music and talent. As Numsa, we call on the workers and poor of Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan (NMBM), to honour this gallant cultural activist not only in song and dance, but by taking power seriously to vote ANC, next Wednesday May 18, 2011. We send our sincere and profound condolences to his family, friends and his colleagues in the art fraternity. Contact: *Castro Ngobese, National Spokesperson – 073 299 1595* -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
