Ramaphosa pays tribute to anti-apartheid activist Renfrew Christie
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Professor Renfrew Christie, calling him a man of courage and principle whose work helped the country’s struggle against apartheid.
Christie died over the weekend at the age of 76 following a short illness. In a statement on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said that he had learned with “deep sadness” of Christie’s passing.
Christie was a scholar, anti-apartheid activist, and covert operative for uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress. His intelligence work was instrumental in the 1982 sabotage of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, delaying the apartheid regime’s secret nuclear weapons program.
“Renfrew Christie’s stand against apartheid entailed many treacherous activities and operations – including the provision of intelligence that enabled the bombing of Koeberg nuclear power station on June 16, 1982, at a time the apartheid state was developing nuclear weapons. During his activism, the regime punished Christie with harassment, detentions and a 10-year sentence under the Terrorism Act,” Ramaphosa said.
He added that Christie’s contribution to the struggle was rooted in humble beginnings that inspired his quest to end inequalities in society.
“His contribution to our struggle was born out of humble beginnings that awoke in him the quest to end the inequalities in our society, including in parts of white communities. He fought for liberation, excelled as a scholar and had his revolutionary resolve reinforced by his experiences in prison, including events to which he was exposed at a time when the death penalty was still in force”.
“His legacy includes the generation of young South Africans who benefited from his expansive scholarship when he served as Dean of Research at the University of the Western Cape. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and associates nationally and abroad”.
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