Remembering Naledzani Mashapa: A Leader for Students and Workers

Naledzani Mashapa, a former leader of the South African Students Congress (Sasco), has died. Instead of chasing high government jobs, he dedicated his life to helping students and workers.

Early Life and Student Activism

Mashapa grew up in Sibasa, Limpopo. He started his studies at the University of Venda, where he led protests against the apartheid government. In 1988, police were sent to the university, and he was forced to leave. He moved to the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

At UWC, he was known as a "stone thrower" for being brave in street protests. But privately, he was warm and humble, with a good sense of humor.

Uniting Student Movements

In the early 1990s, Mashapa helped merge the black and white student groups into one non-racial organization called Sasco. He believed it was important for students to work together, no matter their race.

In 2020, Sasco was about to split into two groups. Mashapa stepped in to mediate and kept the organization united.

Fighting for Workers

After his student days, Mashapa joined the trade union movement. He worked for the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and fought for better conditions for municipal workers.

He opposed government policies that he thought hurt workers, like the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (Gear) plan and the iGoli 2000 strategy in Johannesburg. He believed these policies put money before people.

A Legacy of Service

Mashapa always put others first. He pushed for a national student financial aid scheme, which became NSFAS. He turned down high government positions to stay close to the struggles of everyday people.

He leaves behind his wife Phatuwani and daughter Masana. His life shows that true leadership is about serving others, not seeking power.

This article was originally published on Daily Maverick.