FAWU Mourns Tragic Passing of Denzel Skweyiya

It is with great sadness that FAWU has learnt of the passing of Comrade Denzel Skweyiya. It has been reported that the Toyota sedan he was driving in collided with a BMW in a horrible accident that occurred on the N2 Highway between King Williams’ Town and Mdansane last Friday evening. 


Comrade Denzel joined FAWU in the early 90’s having been absorbed through FAWU’s decision that it must be at the forefront to absorb cadres who were coming from exile. This conscious decision was to strengthen the collective revolutionary work of communities, the ANC and the SACP, Unions and the entire Mass Democratic Movement. The process was led by Ray Alexander Simons who is credited to be the resource behind the formation of FAWU - known as Food and Canning Workers’ Union (FCWU) at the time of its formation. 


Comrade Denzel received military training as an MK combatant during the liberation struggle. He also worked with many giants of our revolution in his return such as Professor Simons and many others. Cde Denzel received capacity within and abroad and during his return from Lusaka joined FAWU through South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU). Denzel is one of many comrades who, upon his return from exile, worked on the ground in communities to build the structures of the ANC and those of the Communist Party. He was passionate about strong and vibrant structures of the Alliance that worked together towards a successful overthrow of the apartheid system. He worked for FAWU’s Finance Department at its head office in Gugulethu in Cape Town for many years. He assisted the union in establishing progressive and well-structured financial mechanisms and principles, which conforms to International accounting standards. 

Comrade Skweyiya will be remembered by many for his contributions to the union and for sponsoring views that advance the strength of the union particularly in terms of establishing co-ordinating structures and systems that strongly supported its Constitutional structures. He was also known for his international work in terms of reaching out to other worker organisations and promoting worker-to-worker contact around the globe. He will be remembered for advocating self-sufficiency in the administration of FAWU. 

Comrade Skweyiya understood that every sphere of life is a site of struggle and so he extended his abilities and financial acumen and became a Chief Financial Officer in the Eastern Cape Provincial Government. FAWU extends it sincere condolences to the Skweyiya family, communities, to the Eastern Cape Department of Transport and many activists as we have lost a humble thinking tank in the political, organisational and many other spheres. 

May his soul rest in eternal peace!

Issued by FAWU General Secretary Mngomezulu Mayoyo - 082 440 4039 mngomezulu.mayoyo@fawu.org.za