A man of strong beliefs and convictions – ANC

FREEDOM fighter and struggle icon Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, who died on Friday, was a man of strong beliefs and convictions, the African National Congress says.

The ANC said Ya Toivo was a loyal friend of the South African people, a freedom fighter, hero and icon of Namibia's struggle for self-determination. "A man of strong beliefs and convictions, comrade Toivo dedicated his life to the fight against oppression by the then South African authorities, rejecting apartheid South Africa's reduction of sovereign Namibia into its colony," the ANC said in a statement. "He was Namibia's longest serving Robben Islander, having served 16 years on the island with other luminaries of the African peoples' struggles following conviction for contravening South Africa's Terrorism Act. His life was the personification of solidarity, the quest for self-determination and unyielding commitment to the liberation of his people." The party said "South Africa has lost a true friend in comrade Toivo ya Toivo, and we send our deepest condolences to our fraternal organisation, Swapo, the people of Namibia and comrade Ya Toivo's family on his passing".