Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane says the passing on of the gallant fighter and leader Nontsikelelo "Mama" Albertina Sisulu, the Matriarch of the people, should not in any way symbolise the closure to the political narrative of the South African liberation struggle.
Instead, Mokonyane said it should serve as the reminder to everyone who believes in the total emancipation of the people of South Africa that the struggle was not yet over. It was everybody's responsibility to pick up the baton left by the great stalwart and complete the race.
"It is the only greatest honour which we can bestow upon a leader of Ma Sisulu's stature. That is, to continue to run the race for the total emancipation of our people from economic deprivation, starvation, poverty, unemployment and infliction by diseases.
"Mama Albertina Sisulu was one of the dedicated leaders in our country. She served our country with humility. Discipline and unity was close to her heart. She believed in the principle of collectivism," said Mokonyane.
Mokonyane said Sisulu never saw herself as above others in terms of social standing because of her professional position in the community.
"In fact, she saw herself as the operative of the movement called upon to serve her people. Without fail she always went out of her way to help the poor, feed the hungry and give solace to the desperate. She was very accommodative, warm, loving and embraced every child as her own," she said, adding that it is this kind of tolerance and accommodative attitude that made it easy for her to engage with people of different social stratum.
She added that the nation had lost one of its revered giants and that the void she left was too wide and deep for any to fill because Ma Sisulu was not only a matriarch but a source of strength and inspiration to all whose inclination was freedom, justice and democracy.
"So as we celebrate the life lived in full, the journey travelled with grandeur, we must pause and reflect on what lessons we can draw from Mama Sisulu's world. Her world was the world of love. So we can in turn learn to love one another unreservedly; conduct ourselves with dignity and discipline at all times," she said.
For more information contact:
Sipho Mokoena
Cell: 082 566 0515
Source: SAPA
