SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED AT DEATH OF WALTER SISULU, HERO OF SOUTH AFRICA’S ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED AT DEATH OF WALTER SISULU,

HERO OF SOUTH AFRICA’S ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the death of Walter Sisulu, one of the heroes of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement.  A former Secretary-General of the African National Congress and close friend and mentor of Nelson Mandela, Mr. Sisulu was engaged in the struggle for multi-racial democracy for all his adult life.  Imprisoned for more than 25 years by the white minority Government, he was known and loved by people far beyond South Africa’s borders for his humility, integrity, intellect and vision.  The Secretary-General expresses his condolences to Mr. Sisulu’s wife and life-long partner in the struggle, Albertina Sisulu, as well as to the Government and people of South Africa.

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