SACP message of heartfelt condolences on the death of journalist Thabiso Sikwane and poet Jessica Mbangweni

Wednesday 4 September 2024: The South African Communist Party (SACP) conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of renowned radio and television broadcaster, Thabiso Sikwane. The SACP also sends its condolences to the media and journalism sector in which she served with diligence, and the people of South Africa.

With her grasp of issues afflicting the people of South Africa, Sikwane managed to inspire many younger media practitioners, particularly in so far as progressive journalism is concerned, and through her work the SACP hopes that more practitioners will take the baton and carry it forward.

In paying tribute to Thabiso Sikwane, the SACP calls for the qualitative transformation of the media in our country, to build true people's media in order to place the needs of the people, the majority of which are working-class and poor, at the centre of all discourse in our media platforms. To carry this forward, the SACP will, within the context of the broader struggle for complete social emancipation, continue to organise the working class and all those who cherish the value of a truly free media to dismantle the concentration of ownership and control of the means of intellectual production on the few but extremely powerful monopolies dominating information generation and distribution on all media platforms. This will contribute to the struggle towards equitable distribution of media resources, development programmes and a deliberate effort to engender a culture of democratic debate and information exchange based on accurate data and fairness.

In the same vein, the SACP sends its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of poet, musician and activist Jessica Mbangweni. The SACP also conveys its message of condolences to the arts industry as well as the people of South Africa for the loss.

Mbangweni used her artistic talent to challenge the inequalities that persist in our country and the world. She was particularly outspoken against patriarchy, which is embedded in the capitalist mode of production. Jessica advocated for women emancipation and the end of gender inequality as well as gender-based violence and femicide.

Consistently grounded in South African heritage, she made sterling contributions to help South African music and arts break barriers and thus enable the sharing of ideas with people from beyond her country's borders.

In memory of Jessica Mbangweni, the SACP calls for the development of our arts and culture sector to ensure that the South African arts and culture space is permeated by progressive and revolutionary creativity which asserts the democratic national sovereignty and right to self-determination of our country.

Further, the SACP calls upon our government to develop policies which allow South African arts, particularly from grassroots level, to be showcased to the public, including in the rural areas and townships. This necessitates the dismantling of the media monopolies which continue to drive a blackout against the vast majority of the people.

This being a National Heritage Month, the SACP stresses the importance of consistent promotion of progressive and revolutionary South African art, culture and stories.

Issued by the South African Communist Party,
Founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa.

Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID

Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo, Central Committee Member
National Spokesperson & Political Bureau Secretary for Policy and Research

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