Former PAC president Pheko lauded for role in SA's land struggle

JOHANNESBURG - The family and friends of struggle stalwart, Dr Motsoko Pheko gathered at the Rosebank Union Church in Johannesburg on Saturday, to pay their last respects to the former Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) leader. 

The anti-apartheid activist died two weeks ago at the age of 93.

He was laid to rest at a private burial ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

READ: SA remains indebted to people like Motsoko for its liberation - Ramaphosa

He was described as a selfless person, who sacrificed his life to fight for the rights of millions of oppressed South Africans during the apartheid era.

Pheko was a renowned author who wrote 45 books, some of which detailed the importance of returning South Africa’s land to its rightful owners.

Professor Gordon Zwide, who spoke on behalf of the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Trust urged government to honour Pheko’s calls for land redistribution.

“Our life is land, the resources of this country are in the land and everything that was taken from us is land. There can never be freedom without the land.”

The Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO)’s Kekeletso Khena echoed these sentiments.

“We are grateful Ntate Pheko for telling us that the land is everything. That the land is and never was a commodity to be traded.”

She added that Pheko would be remembered as a liberation hero who never neglected his roots and values.