Minister Essop Pahad Pays Tribute to Dr Beyers Naude

The Minister in The Presidency, Dr Essop Pahad, has learned with great sadness of the death of Dr Beyers Naude, who he describes as a magnificent and principled fighter for freedom. He said in a statement:

"Beyers Naude was the most prominent among the band of far-sighted and compassionate Afrikaners who, early on in the struggle against institutionalized apartheid, suffered ostracism, loss of liberty and personal danger in challenging an evil system at its roots.

"His death leaves our nation the poorer, but there will be cause for happiness in the fact that, though in his advanced years, he was vindicated in his life's stand, and indeed able to savour the democracy and freedom he had fought for over a generation and more.

He will be remembered as a magnificent and principled fighter for freedom, and the thoughts of South Africans over a very wide front will go out to his widow, Ilse, and his family as we see this stalwart pass from the scene."

Issued by The Presidency on 7 September 2004.