A humanitarian who walked the talk
"The struggle is for true human rights which goes far beyond colour and race. "This is the struggle for humanity for which he was a tremendous fighter. RIP friend."
Thabo Benedict Manyathi played a significant role in the struggle for constitutional democracy. He dedicated his life pursuing a struggle for social justice until his last day which was August 18, aged just 48.
Born in Soweto he moved to Dundee while still a boy and schooled at Endumeni Lower Primary before moving on to Thalana High, Sibongile.
During his high school years, he founded a local branch of the Congress of South African Students, COSAS.
His political activities, including the call for a rent boycott, resulted in him and other activists being arrested and detained without trial during the 1986 state of emergency.
He was detained for two years and completed his matric while in jail. After democracy, he worked for the Association for the Advancement of Rural Affairs, AFRA. Never one to show bitterness, Thabo was an avid reader and a lover of jazz music.
“What people do not understand is that like many other true humanitarians, Thabo never changed. When he passed on after a short illness, he was still struggling for the rights of the down trodden.
He loved debating and was also a lover of history. Long time friend and fellow activist, Mzwakhe Sithebe, paid tribute to Thabo, calling him a ‘deep humanitarian’.
“What people do not understand is that like many other true humanitarians, Thabo never changed. When he passed on after a short illness, he was still struggling for the rights of the down trodden.
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“He was among 13 applicants who challenged the Endumeni Municipality, KZN and National Department of Human Settlements in the High Court in the housing scam which has seen hundreds of deserving applicants miss out on RDP homes due to them because of corruption. This is Thabo’s legacy. The struggle is for true human rights which goes far beyond colour and race. “This is the struggle for humanity for which he was a tremendous fighter. RIP friend.”
