MK veteran Dawood Nkumane has been remembered as a loving, dedicated man for his selfless contributions to society.
“There’s people in life you come across and they have an impact on your life and Baba Dawood was one of the humblest human beings that I’ve come across,” said family spokesman Tahir Maepa.
Speaking in an interview on Salaamedia following the stalwart’s passing, Maepa remembered Nkumane as the kind of person “you would hardly even think he exists, but he has done a lot for the community of Winterveldt”.
According to Maepa, Nkumane’s initial sacrifices, alongside those of his wife Zainab Nkumane, have empowered the Winterveldt community outside Pretoria. He said the community now boasts a clinic and other facilities thanks to their efforts.
“Their contribution to the community of Winterfeldt is unparalleled. He will surely be missed – his subtle smile, his approach to things, his love for the community, his service to his community will really be missed,” he said.
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Maepa recalled his own initial interest in the activism space in the 1980s. He said people like Dawood Nkumane were respectable figures and sources of guidance, inspiring his generation to join the struggle.
“These were the people we used to come to because these were the fighters and we were the youngsters appreciating the suffering of our people and believing that it’s about time that we also be something,” he said.
“Baba Dawood was one of those people that we really look up to and our love for people; being willing to sacrifice ourselves for our people was based on their selfless sacrifices that they’ve already given to our people.”
Maepa noted that while many people leave materialistic treasures behind, Nkumane left a legacy whose value far outweighed wealth.
“They were role models. A lot of people, when they pass away, they leave millions of rands for their children. [Dawood] didn’t leave any of these but his legacy is far greater because it lives in our hearts.
“We wouldn’t want to, in any way, disappoint the legacy of Bra Winnie and Mama Zainab by dropping this baton and we’re going to make sure that the generation that comes behind us pick up the same baton and we’ll continue trying our best to better the condition of our people for a better future.”
Nkumane is survived by his son Rahim, who is said to have proven his capacity to honour his father’s legacy.
