Struggle as volition, as free will Maria van Driel, soulmate and life partner Oupa Lehulere, has been my soulmate, my…
Read More
Oupa Lehulere Memorial Website
Celebrating The Life Of
Oupa Lehulere
An Organic Intellectual and
Working Class Revolutionary
15 June 1960 - 29 November 2021
Photo Gallery
Obituary of Oupa Lehulere
Oupa Lehulere was born in Cape Town in 1960. After primary school he went to Fezeka High School in Gugulethu….
Read More
Jonathan de Vries
For Oupa. By Jonathan de Vries, an old friend and comrade A few weeks ago I stood next to Oupa’s…
Read More
Shepi Mati
Some Reflections On My Encounters With Oupa Lehulere By Shepi Mati,* a life-long friend and comrade * Shepi was the…
Read More
Ian van Driel
Oupa will be sorely missed By Ian van Driel Firstly, I wish to express my condolences to the Lehulere family,…
Read More
Searatoa van Driel
By Searatoa van Driel Dumelang! Hi everybody, thank you I want to start where my mother ended and start with…
Read More
Ighsaan Schroeder
Oupa Lehulere: A revolutionist for the ages By Ighsaan Schroeder, a comrade Friends, family of different kinds and comrades: This…
Read More
Mokesh Morar
A poem for Oupa Phoenix must rise … … … must rise , o ye rise from the ash heaps…
Read More
Ayesha Rajah
Hi Maria I’m thinking of you and Searatoa. I cant imagine how you feel. Oupa’s passing is so difficult to…
Read More
Brian Ashley
Dearest Maria my deepest condolences for your loss. It is terribly sad news and even tragic. One asks why is…
Read More
Lali Naidoo
Maria my love, strength. Love always…
Read More
Jane Bennet
Dear Maria just heard the very sad news of cde Oupa’s passing. Regardless of circumstances a terrible loss for you…
Read More
Ivan Abrahams
Dear Maria and Searatoa, sorry for your loss. Sincere condolences.
Read More
Miriam Mayet
Dear Maria, I am very sorry about Oupa. I was ill for the last few months and myself hospitalised so…
Read More
Jeremy Daphne
Hi Maria – thinking of you and Searatoa. I’ve lit a candle and sending strength.
Read More
Andre Marais
Hi, good morning Maria, my deepest condolences on the passing of Oupa. I’m thinking of having a tribute to Oupa…
Read More
Savera Kalideen
Maria, I’m heartbroken at your and Searatoa’s and our loss. Sending strength, hugs and courage to you all as you…
Read More
Anna Ushamba
Maria I’m so sorry. My deepest condolences.
Read More
Teresa Yates
Hi Maria, I just heard the sad news of Oupa’s passing. Deepest condolences to you and your family. I’m in…
Read More
Philomena Hammond
My prayers are with you today. Be strong. Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord and let the perpetual light…
Read More
Little Sister, Akiko
Maria sorry to hear this sad news…we unite with you in prayer. Please take courage.
Read More
Arnold Pietersen
Hi Maria, I saw the sad news on Facebook. Hamba Kahle cde Oupa. All the strength to you, Searatoa and…
Read More
Priscilla Petersen
Hi my dear friend, I am just checking in to know how you and Searatoa are doing. I am so…
Read More
Marilyn Budow
Dearest Maria – I always think of you two as great contributors to the struggle of life, and always in…
Read More
Fouad Asfour
Condolences dear Maria and family. Oupa was and will continue to be a bright light of incisive thought and positive…
Read More
Margaret, Cape Town
What a shock to hear about Oupa’s passing. I cant imagine Maria how you and Searatoa are feeling. Her father…
Read More
Selby, CWAO
My sincere condolences cde. He was really a good man from what I heard and saw in our brief encounter….
Read More
Cheryl Abrahams
You are constantly in my thoughts Maria. I am holding you tightly in my heart my dear. My wish is…
Read More
Berenice Meintjies
Dear Maria I have been thinking of you so much. This loss has really gotten to me. I didn’t realise…
Read More
Shehnaaz Bulbulia
Heartfelt condolences to you, Searatoa and family. Prayers for ease and sending you and Searatoa hugs, lots and lots of…
Read More
Portia Maurice
Dear Maria, I am so sorry to hear of Oupa’s passing. I cannot imagine how it must feel to lose…
Read More
Eric Itzkin
So sorry to hear of the loss of Oupa. Wishing you and all at Khanya every strength.
Read More
Brenda Madumiso
So sorry to hear about the passing of Oupa. Heartfelt condolences to you and the family. Be comforted my sister…
Read More
Mike Abrams
Strength to you in this most difficult of moments. Thinking of you all. Oupa’s light, leadership and deep wisdom will…
Read More
Leon Caesar
Hello Maria, I was truly saddened when I learned of the passing of Oupa. It was like a bolt out…
Read More
Jackie Cock
Dearest Maria, I think of you every day and am very sorry not being able to contact you before this….
Read More
Desiree Manicom
Dear Maria, I heard the news and am so gutted. My mom and I attended the service on zoom yesterday…
Read More
Terence Hutton
Sorry to hear about the passing of Oupa. You are in my prayers. Love
Read More
Omar Badsha
My deepest condolences on your and the country’s great loss.
Read More
Roger Ronnie
All strength to you and the family, and comrades of Oupa.
Read More
Moses Cloete
Jammer, just heard. Sterkte!
Read More
Juliet Kabe
Dumelang Mofumahad, I don’t know what to say. I just wish and hope that God gives you, the family, friends…
Read More
Hassan Amra
Maria, my sincere condolences my dear sister, and to Searatoa. Really sorry my sis, it’s heart wrenching.
Read More
Sheila, SACHEd
Dearest Maria, it’s been a long time and though we’ve bumped into each other a few times in Johannesburg, we…
Read More
Prishani and Ahmed
Hi Maria, it’s difficult to find words to say how we feel about Oupa’s passing. He played a really important…
Read More
Hope Khoza
Dear cde Maria, my deepest and most sincere sympathy and condolences to you and your family for this great loss….
Read More
Dean van Rooy
Maria, I cant find the words. Oupa is/was one of a kind. You and Searatoa are in our thoughts. This…
Read More
Anna Majavu
Dearest Maria and Searatoa, so very very soad for you and for cde Oupa. So hoped he would get better….
Read More
Angela Conway
So much love sister. So sad. Will phone next week. Love to you and Searat. Thank you for sharing Oupa…
Read More
Nomnikeo, CHW, Orange Farm
Hello dear, I’m so sorry about our loss. We are all hurt about our father, brother and comrade. Let us…
Read More
Firoza & Jeremy Karodia
For Maria, from Oupa By Firoza & Jeremy Karodia As I float between space and time, Between the melodies of…
Read More
Amina Frenze
Dearest Maria and Searatoa our sincere condolences. We are so sad and so sorry to hear of Oupa’s passing.
Read More
Ishmael Lesufi
Dear cdes Maria and Searatoa, I’m interminably grateful to you for making it possible for me to attend Oupa’s funeral…
Read More
Theresa Giorza
Maria, my friend, accept my deepest condolences for the loss of Oupa. Your loss is immense and your sorrow and…
Read More
Luli Callinicos
Dear Maria, so shocked at the passing of dearest brilliant Oupa! Our thoughts and love with you both. Luli and…
Read More
Malcolm Ray
Dearest Maria, It was great sadness that I learned of Oupa's death. He was and will no doubt be remembered…
Read More
Leonor & Jorge Lampiao, Mozambique
Dear Maria I followed with great sadness the death of the great partner and friend Oupa. In this time of…
Read More
Zoltan and Sabine
Dear Maria I just learned from Joachim that Oupa lost his battle against the cancer. Although we didn’t had contact…
Read More
Leonard Singer
Hi Mokesh Thank you for calling me to convey the sad news of Oupa’s passing. Please would you extend my…
Read More
Jane Duncan
Hello Maria I just wanted to pass my condolences for the passing of Oupa. These are such terrible times, but…
Read More
Katlego Gabashane
Maria I just wanted to extend my deepest condolences to you and Searatoa over the loss of ntate Oupa. He…
Read More
William Shoki
You and the family are likely overwhelmed at this moment, but if there's any chance you see this, I just…
Read More
Faradiba Morton
Thinking of you during this difficult time. My sincere condolences to you and your daughter. I’m so sorry to hear…
Read More
Terry Matthews
Good morning my dearest Sister Friend I am so sorry for your loss. I don’t actually have the words to…
Read More
Mark Wigerif
So sorry to hear of Oupa’s passing. Condolences, love and strength.
Read More
Jeremy Daphne
Hi Maria, thinking of you and Searatoa. I’ve lit a candle and sending strength.
Read More
Karla Witbooi
Cde Maria Sterkte aan U en die familie. Ons het groot verloor.
Read More
Pretica Singh
Hi Maria I am so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family. Lots of hugs to…
Read More
Dan Pretorius
Dear Maria I am so sorry to have missed the memorial to Oupa, I would have liked to pay my…
Read More
Gigi Gosnell (Former Colleague)
For the memory of Oupa, we salute him for his commitment to social justice and he betterment of the quality…
Read More
Leonard Gentle
A Revolutionary Life: Oupa Lehulere (1960 – 2021) "Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto", "I am human, and…
Read More
SLC – George
Angela and Phumi When we heard of Oupa's death on Monday 29 Nov we felt a sense of disbelief and…
Read More
James Kilgore, USA
‘A Unique Genius …’ By James Kilgore, a former Khanya colleague and comrade I first met Oupa Lehulere in 1992….
Read More
Tom Bramble, Brisbane Australia
Dear comrades Condolences first of all on your recent loss. Oupa's passing is a big blow to the left in…
Read More
Agnes, Sweden
Maria, I don’t have words, it’s heartbreaking. He was one of the sharpest minds I have ever had the privilege…
Read More
Anil Nauriya, India
So very sorry to learn of Oupa’s passing. He was such a gem. May he rest in peace.
Read More
Tania Wolfenden, Britain
Hello Maria, omg, I’m so sorry to hear this.
Read More
Shailja Patel, US
Dearest Maria just sawy FB post that Oupa has left us. No words, just tears. Wrapping arms around across oceans…
Read More
Rebeca Hernandez, Cuban Embassy, Pretoria
Dear cde Maria, it is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of cde Oupa, your beloved husband….
Read More
Anna Gunterberg, Sweden
Hi Maria, dear friend, I saw the sad and tragic news on Facebook only now about Oupa. I am so…
Read More
Ramila Nankoo, Canada
Hi my sweet sister, Ntokoz conveyed the bad news. My deepest condolences to you and the family. Am really very…
Read More
Little Sister, Cherryl, Australia
Ohh Maria, I woke still with this sad shocking news of Oupa and I hope you and Searatoa are able…
Read More
Cornelia Boge, Greece
My dear Maria, with great sadness and still not being able to believe. We just heard from Shosh that lovable…
Read More
Shosh Morris, London, Britain
OMG Maria, we just heard the news. My heart goes out to you. He was too young, too full of…
Read More
(Aunt) Agnes Sam, York, Britain
Dearest Maria how sad I am to hear your sad news about Oupa passing away. I will light a candle…
Read More
Red Salute
By Issa Shivji, Tanzania I shan’t bury you For you’ll always live in my heart and thoughts. I shan’t sing…
Read More
Biel, Switzerland
Dear Maria Dear Searatoa It is with great sadness that we learnt that Oupa has passed away. Even though we…
Read More
Basel, Switzerland
Dearest Maria it is with great shock that I received the news of Oupa's death and I would like to…
Read More
Brot – Susanne David
Dear Maria, I did not have the pleasure to meet Oupa personally and was in contact with him only a…
Read More
Regular Babler, Zurich, Switzerland
Dear Maria, dear Searatoa From Joachim I got the terribly sad news that Oupa has passed away. I’m thinking of…
Read More
Mkuki-Na-Nyota, Tanzania
Dear Comrade Maria, It is truly with great shock and sadness that i learned a little while ago about the…
Read More
Dear Comrades and Friends
Please share your tributes or your encounters with Oupa below or any funny/memorable stories. If you have any photos or videos, do upload them.
Oupa's Speeches
Latest Tribute
Struggle as volition, as free will
Maria van Driel, soulmate and life partner
Oupa Lehulere, has been my soulmate, my best friend and my comrade. We shared the belief since our youth that the working class will rise and rebuild society; and that capitalism would not determine our lives and how we responded to the needs of
Read More
Laying Oupa to Rest
Visit Oupa's Writing Website
