Eunice Nomvula "Nokza" Khumalo was born on 2 September 1951,
the only child of the late Nomathansanqa "MaMkhulu" Khumalo.

Nokza was educated at Hanley School in Rockville.
She first worked at Phillips before joining COSATU head Office in February 1989 as an administrator.

Nokza lived a simple life. She cherished simplicity and her close relationship with friends and family.

Nokza passed away on 19 November 1999, after a long illness.

She is survived by her three daughters - Nomaswazi Maud, Nomathemba and Batsile - and a grandson, Xolani.

Wena Mntungwa Mbulaze, wen' owadl' umunt' umyenga ngendaba.

Comrades

It is a very great honour for me to stand up to pay tribute to sisEunice on behalf of the staff who worked with her at COSATU head office. We prepared this together - everyone had particular things that they remembered sisEunice for that they wanted me to say…….

Nokza was a very big part of our lives at work - she was the first person we would see when we walked into the office, and the last person we would see as we left. It was impossible to walk by without stopping to say hello, start chatting, catch up with the latest news. More than anyone else, sisEunice was the person who would keep us all informed about everything that was going on in the Federation: who had left, who was going to leave, who was new in the organisation, who was sick, if someone had been robbed or hijacked, Eunice knew about it before anybody else. She even knew what went on in affiliates - she would tell us if there had been new office bearers elected, because it was not just COSATU staff who used to pass by and chat. Ex-staff members came by to see sisEunice - Sipho Binda, Maphete, Jay Naidoo…..so her networks were strong. We particular remember her calling some of us on the phone - "Woza! Sizoshwashwata!" or "Utlwile?" - "Did you hear?" Part of the reason why it was so difficult to clear the reception area in COSATU was because of Comrade Nokza, and the fact that she was so easy to talk to and so sociable. She taught me some Zulu, and was always willing to translate when she could see that I couldn't keep up with the discussion. She had names for some of us - "Siboto" for myself and Anna, "Macarena" for Fazila as well as others we can't mention.

Nokza loved to shop - we shared all the monthly brochures from Queens Park, Sales House, Woolworths - even the fliers that arrived from Clicks or Macro, and she would point out the things she was planning to buy - for her daughters, her grandson, sometimes for herself. Payday was always such a busy day (and it is fitting that we remember her on payday today) - we would gather in the reception area and open up our shopping bags to show her our purchases, try things on and model our new clothes or shoes - and she would do the same. She would always notice, with each and every one of us, including the men, if we were wearing something new, and she would comment. Mostly, her comments made you feel good - "You look so smart today - what's the occasion?", or "New shoes - nice!" or "I really like you in those jeans".

She knew our families - our husbands and wives, our children - even our parents and called them by their names. She talked to them when they called the office and always made them feel welcome when they visited. We knew (and still know) her family - Maud, Nomathemba, Tsielie and Xolani, her little grandson. She was the bond or the glue that held us together and made us more than colleagues - into a family. She had also lived her life, and had advice to give us when we had problems, she was always ready to talk and sympathise.

Eunice loved occasions, and was always ready to party even though she was older than most of us. She organised farewells when people left, baby showers when people left on maternity, and we had a ritual of celebrating our birthdays by eating cake. The cake would always go to her at the reception and she would be in charge of cutting and distributing it. If anybody had more than her fair share (as we often wanted to) she'd say "No guys, the 9th floor hasn't had yet" and she'd say that with a second slice in her hand….. She was the one who would collect for funerals - so now that it's her own, we struggled to find someone to do the collection. She was also a central figure in the organisation of Congresses, Conferences, Central Committees, the 10th anniversary celebration and so on. Next Year's Congress will be a strange event without Nokza.

Besides all the things I've mentioned, sisEunice was also unfailingly committed to the organisation, to the ANC and the struggle. Often administrators are left out of the important work of the federation, but sisEunice knew and understood COSATU very well - she did the work of an educator and an organiser and an administrator in one. She would advise workers who phoned in to ask about retrenchments, or which union they should join, sometimes they would turn up at the door and she would always have time to talk to them.

Comrades, I could go on and on, there are so many stories and so many memories. But for now we'd like just to say:

We are gathered here today to pay tribute to our comrade, Eunice Khumalo.

As friends we are deeply saddened by her untimely death. As comrades we are feeling her absence in the movement and will miss her contribution for a long time to come. Comrade Eunice was one of the COSATU veterans, having served in the organisation since its early days. She worked with comrades like Jay Naidoo and Sydney Mufamadi in the 80's when apartheid repression was at its most brutal. And she worked with Sam Shilowa and Zwelinzima Vavi throughout the 90's when the role of trade unions was unclear, the terrain of struggle had shifted and we were faced with a whole set of new and difficult challenges.

She often used to tell us stories about "the old days" or amusing anecdotes starting with "in Jay's time". She played a crucial role in strengthening the organisation during the past few years. She had a super-efficient manner about her, assisting with the organisation of meetings and congresses, always having a sharp eye for detail.

Most COSATU staff will remember Noksa as one of the foundation stones of the Federation. She was the first person new members met, she was the one to welcome us and introduce us to the rest of the staff. She played an important role in orientating new comrades into the organisation.

She was also well known by many workers. She was the face of the Federation, the first person workers would see when they came to COSATU with problems. She always made time for these workers, referring them to the correct people or following up with their unions. She was a true working class activist. Those who knew and loved comrade Eunice did not only come from the Federation however. She was respected by comrades from the Alliance, the civic movement, parliamentarians and church people.

Her warm and outgoing nature meant that people were automatically attracted to her and many confided in her and sought her advice. She was often seen as the contact person for COSATU, on both a personal and political level, and people would generally phone sis' Eunice with news of weddings, deaths, union elections, national politics and so on.

Eunice was not only a working class activist in COSATU. She was also a loyal and active member of the ANC. She used to engage in heated discussions about the role and future of the organisation with COSATU comrades. She fundraised for her branch during the national elections and actively campaigned for the decisive victory we won on June 2.

She will be remembered in COSATU as a friend, a comrade, an organiser, a working class activist, a support structure, a historian, an ANC activist, a hero in her own right. On an organisational level, the Federation has already felt her absence.

On a personal level, we will all miss her deeply for a long time to come. We would like to send our heart-felt sympathies to her three children and her entire family. Your loss is our loss, and we mourn with you on this very sad day. We wish you strength and love during this difficult time.

Hamba kahle sis' Eunice!