Thousands bid farewell to Dr Tuelo Joshua “Baba” Schalk and celebrated his contribution and dedication to the struggle for freedom at his funeral held in Vryburg over the weekend. In her moving tribute, North West Premier Thandi Modise described Dr. Schalk as a freedom fighter, a mentor who helped others and was a model for cadre deployment as he had the requisite skills, experience and expertise to serve at the highest level in the public service.
“Under his leadership, the administration in the Provincial Legislature achieved clean and unqualified audit reports. He never forgot his humble beginnings and always strove to empower others. He did not abuse his authority as Secretary of the institution,” stressed Premier Modise who was a speaker.
Modise said that the untimely death of Dr. Schalk has robbed the province and country of a committed son who was a loyal servant of the people, a true revolutionary and a cadre.
“Comrade Baba was wellread, capacitated, humorous and humble. He was helpful to those in need, forthright, articulate and arrogant in argument to the arrogant. In him we have lost a fighter and a brother who was a snazzy dresser with a ready smile,” added the Premier.
Dr. Schalk’s friend, Thabo Mosiane spoke of his love for the finer things in life. Member of the Provincial Legislature Hoffman Galeng spoke of the history of the Huhudi Civic Association and the emergence of the UDF as told by Jomo Khasu describing a key moment in history that shaped the people of Huhudi and as a context for the emergence of Dr Schalk the revolutionary underground worker
Schalk studied at various tertiary institutions including New Port University (USA), North West University, University of South Africa, (UNISA) and Oxford University. He obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), (BBA) Honours, Honours in Public Management & Governance, Masters in Business Administration Degree (MBA), Masters in Development & Management, Masters in Public Administration (MPA). He obtained his PhD in 2005 from (UNISA) which was augmented by 32 years of working experience across various fields.
He was detained at Johannesburg Central Prison by the apartheid regime after his expulsion from Turfloop University for his involvement in the liberation struggle in 1984. He was an activist and member of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO), previously called NOCAYCO.
He also served Cosatu at the union federation’s headquarters. He worked with numerous comrades in the underground structures of the African National Congress (ANC) at the height of the liberation struggle. He was a trained diplomat and was subsequently deployed to serve as the Chief Representative of the ANC in Namibia between 1991 and 1993.
Dr Schalk was part of the leadership core that re-established structures of the ANC after the unbanning of the organisation in 1990 and consequently elected as a branch executive member of the ANC in Moletsane, Soweto post 1994.
In 1994, he was deployed in the North West Communication Service as the Chief Operations Officer in the Office of the Premier and also served as an Executive Manager at the National Transport Investment (NTI).
He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Rebangwe Housing Association before his appointment as the Secretary of the North West Provincial Legislature. By the time he met his premature death he had just been employed as the Executive Manager of the Madikwe Game Reserve.
He served on various boards including Platinum Stars Football Club of the Royal Bafokeng.
The Guardian 