The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) has learnt with sadness of the passing of its Northern Cape Provincial Chairperson, Comrade Jacques Cupido.
NEHAWU sends sincerest condolences to his family, friends and comrades in the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM). We wish his family strength and courage in the period of dealing with this dark hour.
Comrade Cupido dedicated his life in service of workers and the working-class family. He championed workers shop floor struggles and spent his energy in defending the gains of workers against exploitative employers whose sole preoccupation is profit maximisation.
His passing occurs at a time when capitalism continues to deepen inequality, unemployment, poverty and exploitation, and imperialism intensifying its aggression in the world and requires comrades of the stature of Comrade Cupido to remain unwavering to the commitment of working-class struggle.
At the recently held 13th National Congress of the union, the union bestowed upon him the Bheki Mkhize Award for Long Service as a result of his service across union structures, and his distinguished record of long service and collective leadership.
Comrade Cupido joined the union in the early nineties as a member of the union employed in the Department of Social Development as a Community Development Practioner. He grew within its ranks and was elected as a shopsteward in the Calvinia Unitary Branch and served as its Branch Chairperson.
In 2012, the Regional Executive Committee of DS Aubrey Beukes Region took a decision to appoint him as the Acting Regional Chairperson. In 2014, the Provincial Executive Committee resolved to appoint him as the Acting Provincial Chairperson following the deployment of then Chairperson to the National Council of Provinces.
When the union convened its 10th Provincial Congress in 2016, Cde Cupido was duly elected as the Provincial Chairperson. Comrade Cupido was re-elected by the 11th and 12th Provincial Congresses.
Comrade Cupido equally served in COSATU, having been elected in 2015 as a Provincial Office Bearer of COSATU to the position of Deputy Provincial Chairperson where he served two terms. At the 2022 Provincial Congress of COSATU, Comrade Cupido was elected to the position of Provincial Chairperson of COSATU and served in that position for two terms.
Comrade Cupido was also a long standing and committed member of the South African Communist Party. He was elected to its 6th Provincial Executive Committee at the Provincial Congress in 2022 and subsequently elected to the Provincial Working Committee where he headed the International Relations Commission and the Trade Union Commission. Comrade Cupido espoused the Marxist-Leninist ideology and strongly believed that communism will one day unite the human race.
Indeed, Comrade Cupido 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.
We will forever remember Comrade Cupido for his sharp analytical skills, discipline and dedication to the working-class struggle. Indeed, the union has lost a dedicated cadre of the revolution.
In his honour, the national union will advance workplace organisation to defend collective bargaining, heighten class consciousness and advance internationalism. We will continue to fight for the ideals he believed in, for the attainment of socialism in our lifetime.
NEHAWU dips its banners at the passing of this exceptional leader of the working class.
Rus in Vrede Comrade Cupido.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; Welcome Mnisi (1st Deputy General Secretary) at 082 455 2897; Baxolise Mali (2nd Deputy General Secretary) at 066 305 0591 or Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za