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Duke fought for total liberation of blacks

NO MORE: Deceased Azapo member Duke More.
NO MORE: Deceased Azapo member Duke More.

DUKE More, the black consciousness adherent who traversed the length and breadth of his country fighting and dreaming of liberation, is no more.

He died last Sunday after a long illness.

Those of us who knew and lived with More during the dark days of pre-1994 South Africa know that this country has lost a real leader during its hour of need.

From his early days as a teacher in KwaZulu-Natal, More never lost an opportunity to stand up against the oppressive regime. Back home in KwaThema, Springs, he continued to raise his voice against the systematic dehumanisation of the country's majority.

As a member of the Azanian People's Organisation (Azapo) in Springs, More surely gave the Special Branch (SB) a hard time and sleepless nights. While his other equally committed leader of the Black Consciousness Movement, Reverend George Wauchope, was called "Mr Azapo" nationally, More was referred to by the SB as "Mr Azapo of the East Rand".

As a former secretary of the East Rand region of Azapo, I worked closely with More when he was the chairman of the same region. His commitment to the struggle for the emancipation of his people was very clear. He believed in the ability of black people to free themselves from white rule. Once we had adopted resolutions to accomplish, More would work very hard to encourage each one of us to implement them.

His home in KwaThema was always teeming with comrades who came to him for advice on the best way to bring about the changes envisioned by the liberation movement. He was always humorous even in the face of adversity. When he was elected head of the labour secretariat of Azapo in 1983, More performed his duties diligently, and this earned him friends among the workers of our country.

When I left for exile in Botswana in 1985, More was languishing in prison in detention without trial at Modderbee under Section 22 of the Security Act of the then regime. When he finally came out of prison, he too took the option of exile and went to live in the US.

Upon returning home a few years ago, More was always concerned about the status of the majority whom he said were like spectators in a game they should be playing in the land of their birth. As a few well-to-do blacks were leaving the ghettoes for the suburbs, he said that was not the change we fought for.

As he continued to serve for the achievement of true liberation, his health would not allow him to do so. More is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

His funeral service will take place tomorrow at Naledi Community Hall in Soweto from 8.30am to 11am. The cortege will then leave for Avalon Cemetery.

So long Bra Duke.

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