Moses Kotane, the South African Communist Party and African National Congress stalwart dies in Moscow

Moses Kotane, the South African Communist Party and African National Congress stalwart passed away in Moscow, Russia where he was hospitalised after a long illness he suffered since 1968. In 1931 Kotane became active member of the South African Communist Party before it was banned in 1951. Later in 1946 he took African National Congress membership and became National Executive Committee member of the party. Like other prominent political leaders of the time Kotane was harassed by the Apartheid government agencies and repressive legislations. He was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act of 1951. In 1955 Kotane and I.M Cachalia sneaked out of the country without proper document to attend the famous Bandung Conference, which was held in Indonesia. These two activists were sent by the African National Congress as observers. In 1963 he left the country for Tanzania. In exile Kotane worked tirelessly in the African National Congress external missions.