General Andre Lincoln – a Justice and Peace tribute

“GENERAL Andre Lincoln has passed away”, was a painful message I received on Friday, May 30, from Father Anthony Padua, the parish priest of the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Luke.

- BRIAN WILLIAMS

The news took my breath away and I cut my early morning meeting and rushed to Andre's home. Upon arrival, I saw his tearful mother and immediately embraced her, along with other family members. I offered my condolences to his wife, and those who had gathered in sorrow. In that moment of shared grief, we stood together as Andre's shrouded body was respectfully taken away.

Earlier, Andre's mother, a devout Catholic, gently placed holy water on his forehead and prayed for the safe passage of his soul to paradise. A chaplain from the SAPS offered comforting prayers, her voice firm yet solemn. The atmosphere in Andre's household was heavy with grief; shock was etched on every face.

Andre's journey towards becoming a legend within the liberation movement began at his home parish of Saint Luke. It was there that the seeds of his lifelong commitment to justice were first sown. This formative period, deeply influenced by liberation theology, played a significant role in shaping his outlook on life. Witnessing injustice, and the repression of voices calling for freedom only strengthened his resolve to join the liberation movement.