President Jacob Zuma has called upon South Africans to honour Mrs Victoria Mxenge as the country marks women’s contribution in the struggle for freedom and the development of the country.
The 1st of August marked the 30th Anniversary of the passing of the struggle stalwart and women’s rights activist.
“As we commence the activities of celebrating Women’s Month, we call upon all South Africans to remember our struggle stalwart and women’s rights activist, Mama Victoria Mxenge who was assassinated in Durban in 1 August 1985.
“Mama Mxenge, the wife of the struggle hero and African National Congress leader Comrade Griffith Mxenge and an activist and leader in her own right, must be remembered for her fearless and selfless leadership she showed as a member of United Democratic Front (UDF) during struggle against apartheid particularly in KwaZulu-Natal,” said President Zuma.
Mama Mxenge, a professional lawyer, was part of the defence team in the 1984 Treason Trial, against leaders of the UDF and the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in the Pietermaritzburg Supreme Court.
She was brutally assassinated in front of her children at her Umlazi home in Durban in 1 August 1985. In 2006, Mama Mxenge was posthumously awarded the National Order of Luthuli for her excellent contribution to the field of law and sacrifices made in the fight against apartheid oppression in South Africa.
President Zuma has called on youth, particularly young women, to emulate the dedication, resilience and discipline of Mama Mxenge and other fearless heroines that the country would be celebrating during the Women’s Day on Sunday, 9 August 2015.
The President will lead the national celebrations in Sasolburg, in the Free State under the theme “Women United in Moving South Africa Forward” where he will also release the first Government Report on the Status of Women in the South African economy.
Enquiries:
Bongani Majola
Cell: 082 339 1993
E-mail: bonganim@presidency.gov.za
