Tributes pour in for Ben Skosana

THE Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has released details for the funeral of the late Ben Skosana who passed away on Tuesday, 11 February.

A Requiem Mass will be held at the Good Shepherd Church, KwaNzimela Centre, Melmoth on Friday 21 Februry at 10am.

A memorial service will also take place at the Braamfontein Civic Centre at 5pm also on Friday.

The funeral service will be held on Sunday at 10am in the Vereeniging City Hall, Sharpeville.

Tributes

Skosana, who was a National Assembly (NA) House Chairperson and a Member of Parliament since 1994, collapsed and died in Parliament on Tuesday evening.

The 66-year-old had also served as Minister of Correctional Services.

Following the announcement of his death, tributes for Skosana have streamed in across the political spectrum.

Parliament and Correctional Services minister Sibusiso Ndebele expressed shock at his death. Ndebele said his passing away was a loss to the country as his positive outlook on life, and his commitment to improve people’s quality of life, had been invaluable.

‘We will sadly miss him, but his family and friends should take solace in knowing that he lived his life to the fullest and contributed towards the building of the new democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prospering South Africa we are enjoying today,’ Ndebele said.

Parliament said Skosana’s sudden passing away was even more poignant because it came as Parliament marked its final term and on the eve of its last State of the Nation Address when the country was celebrating its 20th year of freedom.

The IFP Parliamentary Caucus said, ‘It is with great shock and sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of our dear friend, comrade, Member of Parliament and House Chair, the Hon Ben Skosana, MP.

Comrade Skosana passed away yesterday evening while enjoying dinner with a close friend, Minister Thulas Nxesi.’

‘Our country, our party and parliament have lost a great mind, an experienced politician, a humble servant of the people and a true patriot.

‘His vast reservoir of political knowledge, his diplomatic demeanour and wonderful sense of humour will be sorely missed by our caucus and parliamentary staff.

‘The Inkatha Freedom Party has lost one of its greatest sons.

‘The Hon Skosana worked tirelessly together with Prince Buthelezi, for the IFP and the country he loved.

‘We salute you Baba Skosana and wish you Godspeed on your journey.

‘Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family,’ said a statement from the caucus.

A statement from The Congress of the People (COPE) said the party mourns the passing of Ben Skosana who they describe as one of the icons of South Africa’s struggle for democracy, and an important role player in the development of the rainbow nation under the stewardship of Nelson Mandela.

‘Ben Skosana espoused the values that the IFP and COPE are jointly pursuing through the Collective for Democracy platform and, through this, we are proud to be paying tribute to this remarkable figure. We extend our condolences to his friends and family,’ said COPE President Mosiuoa Lekota.

His life

Ben Skosana was born on 7 May 1947 in Sharpville, Transvaal and became a member of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa in 1994.

Four years later he was appointed as a Minister of Correctional Services by the then President Nelson Mandela.

After the official retirement of President Mandela in 1999, Skosana was reappointed to the same Ministry by the incumbent President, Thabo Mbeki until 2004. He served as National Assembly House Chairperson for Members’ Interests from 2007 to date, as well as being a member on the portfolio committee on International Relations and Cooperation.

He was a member of the Inkatha Freedom Party since its inception in 1975 and was a permanent representative of the IFP in London between 1987 and 1994.

Skosana qualified as a teacher from Wilberforce Training College before doing a Diploma in Social Development at the Coady International Institute of St Francis Xavier University in Canada.

He proceeded to do a BSc and MSc in International Affairs at the Pacific Western University in the United States.