NEHAWU Mourns The Passing Of Comrade Joe Mpisi
Friday May 12, 2023
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] has learned with shock and sadness the untimely passing of its former 1st Deputy President, Comrade Joe Mpisi. Comrade Mpisi passed on earlier today. The national union extends condolences to his family, friends and comrades in the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM). We wish his family strength during this moment.
Comrade Mpisi was an embodiment of the best traditions of the Congress movement, he was a trade unionist, activist and a leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) and served our people diligently with distinction.
Comrade Mpisi joined the union in the early nineties where he was working at the then Wits Technikon. He rose through the ranks of the union as a shopsteward championing workers struggles in general and in particular the tertiary sector. In 2000, he was elected as the Acting Regional Chairperson of Greater Johannesburg and later as Regional Chairperson in 2003. During the Gauteng Provincial Congress in 2005, he was elected as the Provincial Deputy Chairperson and later as Provincial Chairperson in 2008. At the 9th National congress held in 2010, Comrade Mpisi was elected as 1st Deputy President a position he held until June 2014.
Comrade Mpisi played a key role in building the union. He devoted the better part of his life to fight for workers’ rights, defending collective bargaining, improving workers’ lives and their working conditions. Following the General Elections in May 2014, Comrade Mpisi was deployed to serve at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature until his untimely passing. He was currently serving as the Chairperson of the Education Portfolio Committee as well as the Head of the ANC Caucus Political Education and Ideological Training.
He also served as the Provincial Chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in Gauteng and a position held until his untimely death. Cde Mpisi ascribed to the socialist cause and was devoted to the class struggle. He will forever be remembered for his sterling role and contribution to the trade union movement and the advancement of the working-class struggle.
In his honour, NEHAWU will continue to fight for the ideals he espoused. His contribution to the transformation of our society will forever serve as an inspiration. NEHAWU dips its banners at the passing of this exceptional leader of the working class. We are deeply saddened by his death and want to take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt condolences to his family, his comrades and friends.
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Issued by NEHAWU Secretarat Office
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968;
December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969;
Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za
Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za