The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

2003. Thabo Mbeki expressed the poignancy of Sisulu’s death: “Because he was a humble
person, not many people knew the centrality of his contribution to South Africa”. It was
Sisulu who had “introduced” Nelson Mandela “to a life of politics” and who had taught
him about the ANC. In his “enduring friendship” with Mandela, Sisulu had become “the
mentor, the counsellor, the political guide, the confidant”. His qualities of “humility,
courage, conviction, self‐respect and vision” enabled him to play “a behind‐the‐scenes role
in the emergence of Nelson Mandela as the leader who was to take the initiative in
negotiating his jailers out of power”. 153
Sisulu had refused to take up prominent positions in government and parliament, which
had been offered to him. As a result, according to Mandela, Sisulu “had not received the
international accolades and recognition he had deserved”. Sisulu was “the quintessential
unsung hero”. 154 In spite of being a private citizen, Sisulu was accorded the honour of an
official state funeral, which was broadcast live on television. Anecdotal accounts of the
funeral proceedings told of the difficulties some members of the Sisulu extended family
had in gaining access to the podium. This had occurred because of security arrangements,
which had been invoked because of the presence of heads of state and other dignitaries at
what was a public occasion. Ceremony and protocols of state at times clashed with the
need for family mourning. However, the strains and tensions of the occasion were soothed
by Desmond Tutu, who lifted the formal, sombre mood when he called for a celebration of
Sisulu’s life of commitment and service.
The death in 2001 of Joe Modise, former MK Commander and Minister of Defence, raised
questions about how to manage biographic controversy. Just days before his death,
Modise was the recipient of a “flood of extravagant tributes”, including the Order of the
Star of South Africa (Gold Class) “for meritorious service”. In the two weeks between
Modise’s death and funeral, narratives of his public life were asserted and contested in the
153 Thabo Mbeki, quoted on eNews, e.tv, 6 May 2003; ‘Our history is stamped with Sisulu’s vision’,
Editorial, Sunday Independent, 11 May 2003; Ranjeni Munusamy, ‘Nelson, is that you?’, Sunday Times
Insight, 11 May 2003.
154 Ranjeni Munusamy, ‘Mandela’s wish for his fallen friend’, Sunday Times, 11 May 2003; ‘Our history
is stamped with Sisulu’s vision’, Editorial, Sunday Independent, 11 May 2003.
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