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President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a special provincial official funeral for ANC struggle stalwart Cecyl Esau, scheduled for Saturday.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde had written to the president following a request from the Esau family for a category 2 special provincial funeral, which, according to the policy for state funerals, may be held for “distinguished persons specifically designated by the President of South Africa on request by the Premier of a province”.
According to acting Presidency spokesperson Tyrone Seale, the South African Police Service will provide ceremonial elements, while the national flag will be half-masted throughout the Western Cape on the day of the funeral.
Esau, 66, a former freedom fighter and Robben Island prisoner, died from natural causes at his home in Table View, Cape Town, last week.
The Umkhonto we Sizwe veteran was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment on Robben Island following his arrest for his involvement in the struggle.
As a student at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, he was involved in the 1976 national student uprising. One of the residences at the institution is named after him.
Esau was granted the Freedom of Worcester in 2020.
Following Winde’s letter, leader of the opposition in the Western Cape Legislature Cameron Dugmore had said he was confident Ramaphosa would support the family’s request while the ANC’s provincial office had also been in contact with the Presidency to convey its support.
“A provincial state funeral is a fitting tribute to a comrade who, during his life, made a huge impact on many ANC cadres in the province,” he said.
“A son of Worcester, comrade Cecyl was one of the movement’s best organisers and political educators. He was direct and forthright in his views and spoke his mind.
“I recall the way in which comrade Cecyl concluded many meetings with the inspiring words, ‘Daar is ‘n volk om te lei om die land te bevry! Daar is werk!’ (‘There is a nation to lead and a country to liberate. There is work!’).”
The ANC described Esau as one of the “most dedicated and selfless cadres of our movement”.
“His passing marks the end of a revolutionary life that was dedicated to the struggle for justice and the defence of our freedom. Death has robbed the liberation movement of a dedicated and committed servant who placed the aspirations of the oppressed above his own personal interests,” ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said after Esau’s death.
“Comrade Esau was one of the key activists of the United Democratic Front who responded to the call to make the country ungovernable and apartheid unworkable. He belonged to that generation of freedom fighters who were prepared to pay the ultimate price in pursuit of the liberation of the people of South Africa.”
