Today marks 21 years since the death of anti-apartheid activist and SACP stalwart, Joe Slovo. Slovo was a steadfast member of the South Africa Communist Party from, the early 1940's. He was also the founding member of the Congress of Democrats in 1953. He contributed to the drafting of the Freedom Charter, but was unable to attend the gathering in Kliptown because of his restriction order. He watched the proceedings through binoculars from a nearby rooftop. He was involved in the founding of the joint ANC-SACP liberation army, uMkhonto weSizwe and was also accused in the 1956 Treason Trial. He lived most of life in service to the struggle against apartheid. After the 1994 elections Slovo was elected to cabinet where he served as Minister of Housing until his death on this day - 6 January 1995.

In May 1990 Joe Slovo, the General-Secretary of the SACP, addressed a crowd at the FNB stadium in Soweto. At the time, FW De Klerk's administration was negotiating with political leaders for a democratic South Africa. In this address, Slovo encouraged his supporters to not give up the belief for a free and equal South Africa. Our guest is Mr. Solly Mapaila - Who is the Deputy General Secretary of the SACP