Nomahlubi Radebe

Nomahlubi Radebe

South Africa needs leaders of a high calibre who can lead by example.

This was the message put forward t at the Matthew Goniwe annual lecture at the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance in Johannesburg this week.

Slain former UDF leader and teacher Matthew Goniwe was hailed as a disciplined and dedicated teacher and a leader who balanced his role as a teacher and his passion for politics.

"Matthew distinguished himself as a committed teacher," Lungisile Ntsebeza said.

"His focus during the early years was on political education among the youth. He attached importance to formal education and but was committed to political activism.

"He was principled, held high moral standards and was never spineless.

"He never used his age to make younger people feel uncomfortable."

Goniwe was a member of the Cradock Four - Goniwe, Sparrow Mkhonto, Fort Calata and Sicelo Mhlauli.

They were abducted by security police in 1985 and taken to Olifantshoek Pass and later Port Elizabeth, where they were assaulted, killed and their bodies burnt in the vehicle they were travelling in.

The memorial lecture on Tuesday was organised jointly by the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership, Gauteng department of education and the Steve Biko Foundation.