Programme Director;
Leadership of the African National Congress of South Africa;
The Alliance;
Leagues of the African National Congress;
Leadership of the State of the Republic of South Africa;
State employees present here;
Members of the ANC and the Alliance;
Distinguished guests;
Comrades and compatriots;
Ladies and gentlemen;
On the 2nd of June 2011, on a Thursday evening, a profound ‘tsunami and hurricane’ of death wiped the streets, the valleys, the mountains and the scenery of our country. Barely fifteen days after a fitting celebration of the birthday of one of the stalwarts of our struggle for freedom and liberty, tata comrade Walter Sisulu. Mama Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu became breathless; her flesh and blood succumbed to the paranormal. A mystical impale of icebergs cut through the soul of our nation.
Imaginary squeals and squalls of heavy storms; sounds of whooshing rains wetting a ‘thirsty Thursday’, reverberated the veins and flesh of our people; unflinching an unbearable pain in the inner bones of all South Africans.
Perverted into a gasping moment for the Sisulu family; a giant gash for our nation, a pain penetrating the inner-end of our hearts until reaching the pinnacle of the organization of our people.
The chink-chunk wave of the ‘tsunami and hurricane of death’ robbed South Africa of its rocket of rocks; the “Mother of the Nation” – MaAlbertina Sisulu - one of our revolutionary ovens and ovulates.
Death! You think that South Africa and Africa will balk and cringe? You think that we will shrink and squirm in the face of crevice? You thought so when you stole our brother and uncle Mlungisi Sisulu from us!You did the same when you cowardly grabbed our father and grandfather Walter Sisulu from our sight!
You thought we will evaporate when you robbed us of our veteran, Oliver Reginald Tambo!You again thought so when you stole Chris Hani from us!You were even determined when you hijacked Steve Tshwete and many more from our midst! You still think we will fall apart and become no people?
You forget that for decades we’ve dealt with and defeated many enemies including death itself? You can’t clunk and clink us no more! We are a people with a deep sense of spirit and spume!
Today again, death makes us a nation and a people carrying a profound lumber of grief; refusing to be tranquilled. Our spirit has been sunken under excruciating credence of an astonishing and anesthetizing shock. We are dripping silent tears of desperation and anguish; watering our faces and those of the Republic. Hence the continued vivid vindicated mournful cries of the bereaved family and friends still echoed within our inner most being.
The one who loved her country and her people is no more! South Africa pays homage in gratitude for her colossal contribution to the struggle for the national liberation and social emancipation; reminded by her immaculate verve story that she vestiges one of the deluxe and most seasoned cadres of our movement, the African National Congress (ANC).
She undoubtedly had a revolutionary consciousness from her early age as a teenager and found herself in the fore-front of the battle trenches for freedom and democracy. An off-spring of a peasant farmer (her father) and a housewife, (her mother), where she learnt how to serve.
A servant of our country and the democratic state. A pillar of strength of the ANC Youth League leadership of the 40’s. A volunteer for the Freedom Charter campaign in the early 50’s; a leader of the 1956 Women’s’ March; an organizer of the Federation of South African Women; a founding member of the ANC Women’s League; a nurse and committed civil servant for more than forty years; an activist of the United Democratic Front (UDF) till the end; a social worker and care-giver to many children and those with disabilities flaunted her inherent servitude.
Her monumental contribution into the fight to defeat apartheid colonialism were crystal clear until her last days when she voted in the 18 May 2011 local government elections, making her mark towards the ultimate overwhelming victory of the African National Congress.
The life she and her husband suffered under during the days of the colonialism of a special type bears evidence to the verity that they worked diligently to ensure that freedom and democracy was enjoyed by all South Africans.
A ‘rose because of her simplicity’ and nature; a scenery because of her naturalness; a revolutionary because of her commitment to her country and people; a heartwarming creature because of her personality; a touchable soul because of her originality and humility! She was one of those persons whom everybody liked immediately because she was full of love and respect!
Mama knew the ANC. She knew that the revolution belongs to the people. She knew that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in their diversity”. She knew that the ANC is the home for all. She equally knew that the ANC does not belong to certain individuals but its entire body collective.
She welcomed everyone in the ranks of the ANC and encouraged all to accept any task assigned by the ANC. She felt welcomed in the ANC and gave all what she had to the life of the ANC. She loved to be with the rank and file of the movement.
She showed us, as she was not occupying any position in the movement, that these positions are not ours, but of the ANC. She has shown us that i-ANC iyasetyenzelwa… halala! To her, what was important was the positioning of the ANC and that the unity and cohesion of the movement is our only destiny.
She has shown us her courage and love for the ANC and the broader mass democratic movement till the end, even in her last days on earth, through the ballot box, she showed us that she loved her country. She died a member of the ANC and the ANC Women’s League.
MaSisulu represented the most excellent cadres of our movement and displayed the best values of the ANC and the mass democratic movement. She did not put her own interests before the interest of her people and those of the revolutionary movement.
Forever loyal to the Constitution of South Africa and the objectives of the developmental state and incapable of betraying the humanity of its cause; she stood tall in many regards and remains in the front lines with those whom we should bestow the accolade Isithwalandwe. The story of her life is indeed an affirmation that “Wathint’abafazi,wathint’imbokodo!”.
The world is indebted in the wisdom of this stalwart; the gallant fighter for peace and equality. The combatant in the war to preserve democracy; and push back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment. The one, who epitomizes elegance and compassion. Her resilience and humanity inspired many in and out of South Africa! The champion for gender equality; and the torchbearer of the struggle for human rights and human dignity. A fine role model and a formidable leader!
A child to her parents and villagers! A wife to comrade Walter Sisulu!A mother to her children! A grandmother to her grandchildren!And uKhokho to her great grandchildren!
Our people are indeed grateful for the contribution of this exceptional heroin. “The Mother of the Nation”; maSisulu – Lala Ngoxolo!
I thank you!
