NEHAWU Northern Cape Mourns the Passing of Comrade Elijah Gogo Hendriks
Thursday July 25, 2024The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union [NEHAWU] in the Northern Cape has learned with great shock on the passing of its former Acting Provincial Chair Cde Elijah Hendrik’s affectionally known as Cde Gogo in the early hours of 22nd July 2024. The union extends condolences to his family, friends and comrades in the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM). We wish his family strength during this moment.
Comrade Gogo was an embodiment of the best traditions of the Congress movement, he was a trade unionist, activist and a leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) and served our people diligently with distinction.
Comrade Gogo joined the union at the Department of COGHSTA formally known as the Department of Housing where he was working. He rose through the ranks of the union as a shopsteward championing workers struggles through his campaigning coordination, Community building, negotiation and organising skills. He would later be tasked by the national union to serve as secretary of state administration branch one of the strategic branch of Arshall Thembani Dyushu Region.
He would go on to be elected as Regional Chairperson, later on as Provincial Deputy Chairperson and ultimately given the task of being the political head of the province as Acting Provincial Chairperson. Comrade Gogo demonstrated outstanding negotiations qualities especially when it came to Private Social (Old age Homes) salary negotiations.
While serving as the acting Provincial Chairperson, Comrade Gogo would later be identified and elected to serve as a ward councillor of Emthanjeni Local Municipality. This demonstrated his profound revolutionary qualities that when the alliance was faced with turbulence, dis-order, unstableness, uncertainty and resignation of councillors to join the breakaway movement, he played a key role to the rescue of the movement. To Comrade Gogo, the ANC, SACP, COSATU, SANCO and especially the national Union, was the most precious thing in his life. The death of Comrade Gogo must be able to turn our grief into collective strength to take cue from his relentless fighting spirit for the working class and the poor.
He will forever be remembered for his sterling role and contribution to the trade union movement and the advancement of the working-class struggle. In his honour, NEHAWU will continue to fight for the ideals he espoused. His contribution to the transformation of our society will forever serve as an inspiration. NEHAWU dips its banners at the passing of this exceptional leader of the working class.
We are deeply saddened by his death and want to take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt condolences to his family, his comrades and friends.
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Issued by NEHAWU Northern Cape Provincial Secretariat
For more information, please contact: Moleme Moleme (Northern Cape Provincial Secretary) at 0824552521 or email: moleme@nehawu.org.za
Banzi Sebotse (Northern Cape Provincial Deputy Secretary) at 0636851900 or email to Banzi@nehawu.org.za
Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za