17 January 2022 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions mourns the passing away of Dr Max Coleman at the age of 95, a distinguished anti-apartheid activist and a former Human Rights Commissioner. We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and comrades.  

This recipient of the Order of Luthuli was a passionate human rights campaigner, who with his wife, Audrey, formed the backbone of the anti-apartheid movement, the Detainee Parents’ Support Committee.  

He served it as a founding Director. In this role, he was instrumental in ensuring the release of many apartheid political detainees and helped in looking after their welfare in the 1980s. He was not just opposed to the criminal system of apartheid, but he actively acted to inverse and challenge some of its worst predispositions like political detentions, torture and arbitrary disappearances.  

He will always be remembered for his contribution to the struggle for social justice and the emancipation of all those who are oppressed. His was a life well lived and marked by distinction in the service of South Africa.  Such contributions and sacrifices paved the way for the democratic breakthrough in 1994.  We need to learn from and build upon the legacies of such giants. 

May His Soul Rest in Peace!  

Issued by COSATU  

Sizwe Pamla (Cosatu National Spokesperson) 

Tel: 011 339 4911
Fax: 011 339 5080
Cell: 060 975 6794