Programme director
Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize
Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council
Members of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee
Executive Committee Members of the SACP, COSATU and SANCO
Members of the Executive Committees of the ANC Women and Youth Leagues
Distinguished guests
Comrades and friends
Ladies and gentlemen
"Death arrives among all that sound
like a shoe with no foot in it
like a suit with no man in it
comes and knocks
using a ring with no stone in it
with no finger in it
comes and shouts with no mouth
with no tongue, with no throat
Nevertheless its steps can be heard
and its clothing makes a hushed sound, like a tree."
These words were spoken by the late revolutionary Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. These very same steps walk beside us today, resonating loudly as we mourn the loss of that giant that once strode the length and breadth of South Africa calling for the freedom of her people in her quiet yet resilient manner.
Today we join hands with our compatriots throughout the country in solemn memory of a woman whose commitment to South Africa saw her undergo decades of mistreatment at the hands of the apartheid government all for the just cause for freedom, peace and democracy. It is this characteristic that enabled MaSisulu to live through decades of police harassment, detentions, banning orders, the imprisonment of the apple of her eye and leader of our people, Walter Sisulu, while witnessing the forced exile of her children. Yet MaSisulu understood too well that the harassment of her own family was an integral part of the broader oppression and exploitation of the rest of the people of our country.
MaSisulu represented far more than just a leader. As you are all aware the movement produced no shortage of great leaders. She was far more than that. Her leadership skills were combined with a quiet dignity, a formidable resilience and a gentle stubbornness that was the bain of the apartheid regime and the salvation of many a comrade.
She was a leader belonging to a generation distinguishable by nothing but the humility and selfless sacrifice which epitomises the character of our movement, the African National Congress throughout decades of its existence.
It is this same generation of our people that helped transform the ANC into a revolutionary movement ready to confront the system of apartheid without fear or favour, even at a great personal cost to their own lives. It is a generation that gave our country the gift that is the Freedom Charter - the roadmapto the formation of a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. A generation that bore the brunt of apartheid persecution resulting in detentions without trial, banning orders, and seemingly endless treason trials.
In a time when few believed that this country would ever be transformed into a nation where white and black, oppressor and oppressed would walk hand in hand into the dawn of a new era. Thanks to this generation - of which the ever self effacing MaSisulu was one of its principal leaders, the seeds of equality and justice were planted. It is the duty of every South Africa alive today to water those seeds and ensure that they grow from strength to strength.
Our President called for our national flag to fly at half-mast in recognition of the fact that MaSisulu’s passing is a loss not only to her bereaved family, or the movement that she dedicated her life to enriching or even the many individuals that she inspired during her 92 years on this earth - but to the entire nation that today - buries a mother.
Every single citizen of the free and democratic South Africa in which we reside today, owes no small measure of gratitude to MaSisulu. For what she did – the sacrifices she made, sacrifices that her own family suffered greatly for as a result, were not for merely a movement but for an ideal. An ideal that led in the South Africa that we know and love today.
MaSisulu, of course, started her life as a nurse, that noble profession that requires love for human beings, care, compassion and above all, knowledge and diligence. She carried that with her all her life even when she took on orphans and helped the homeless.
As as we gather here today to say farewell to MaSisulu – the mother, the veteran of our struggle, the wife and the leaderwe are convinced that this sun, which is MaSisulu, willforever shine in the hearts of millions of our people across the country, throughout the rest of the African continent and indeed across our the globe.Indeed the sun set at midday - Lashoni ‘Langa emini’.
We say without fear of contradiction to the Sisulu family that even during these trying moments of your lives, you can draw inspiration from the knowledge that the nation shares in your pain, sorrow and sense of loss. MaSisulu, you remain forever etched in our minds, our hearts and in the very fabric of this country for whose freedom you fought so hard to attain.
MaSisulu’s life would not be complete without reference to the love of her life, Walter Sisulu. The two who shared a love story that many envied then and still do today – were united not only by their love for one another and their children, but also by an undying passion for their country.
Ahh, just to think on it warms the soul and strengthens the heart! 59 years of marriage, the majority of which were interrupted by Tata Sisulu’s incarceration on Robben Island and MaSisulu’s intermitten arrests and bannings. Yet throughout all the pain and suffering brought unto them at the hands of the regime – much like their love for their country – their undying affection for one another simply could not be broken.
Tata Madiba, when speaking of his prison years that he shared with Tata Sisulu said this of their love: “Despite the pain of struggle, Walter in his inimitable way would claim that life has been bounteous to him. First and foremost he would claim the gift of a lifelong partnership with his wife, Albertina, and their family. Living one's beliefs combined with a generosity of spirit are qualities that both Walter and Albertina shared. It has made them a very special couple who have moved together in thought and action at all times. Because they as a couple were totally giving of themselves, they have at all times been secure in their relationship.”
It is words such as these that give us respite from our overwhelming grief for the loss of this great woman, for we know that one moment apart for this revolutionary couple lasted a lifetime, and now they shall never have to part again.
It is important to note at this juncture that in the case of this formidable couple, MaSisulu was by no means an example of the time worn saying “Behind every successful man is a strong woman.” I think were her family to be sitting in front of us today they would attest to the fact that MaSisulu walked beside Tata Sisulu every single step of the way.
We are convinced that when you once again meet the love of your life, walking hand in hand - face beaming and eyes shining- he would welcome you with Donny Hathaway’s song. “I love you in a place where there is no space or time, I’ve loved you for my life for you have always been a friend of mine and when my life was over, I remembered when we were together, and we are alone now - and I am singing this song for you”.
It was her love not just for the man but for the nation that saw her being the only woman to attend the launch of ANC Youth League. That same desire to see her people walk equally in the country of her birth led to MaSisulu being banned in her own country for 18 years consecutively.
Many have said that the passing of MaSisulu heralds the end of an era.As much as there may be truth in this statement - her life ushered in the beginning of a new one. An era where her children, grandchildren and all the youth of South Africa were granted the freedom to walk with their heads held high, to know the taste of justice and the sweet sounds of liberty.
We should never forget that she was part of a group of veterans that were in our first Parliament who inspired a lot of us by their hard work, dedication and discipline. She participated in the Health Portfolio Committee with MaTambo, Sister Bernard Ncube, MaBertha Gxowa and others. They dealt with very difficult issues with ease. They were our role models.
The onus is upon this generation to take the lessons learned by those that fought for us to be freely gathered here today - to mourn her yes, but more importantly to emulate her. To strive to embody the characteristics that she possessed – bravery, integrity, discipline, humility and service to others.
It is this generation that has the power to ensure that her life’s struggles will not be forgotten. To ensure that their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren believe in the same principles that she embodied should be engrained in the very fabric of their lives.
Life presents us with many great opportunities, and in death MaSisulu has given each and every one of us the opportunity to not just reflect on her life but ask ourselves pertinent questions. How do we, gathered here today, begin to walk in the footsteps of this giant of the African National Congress?
How do we garner the integrity, the passion, the wisdom and the patience to walk where MaSisulu walked and move forward, continuing to clear the path that she charted. How do we take this woman’s legacy and not just guard it as jealously as our freedoms, but own it, live it, instil it in our daily lives? How do we prevent ourselves from living for nothing other than death? As Pablo Neruda noted, “He or she who becomes the slave of habit, who follows the same routes every day, who never changes pace, who does not risk and change the colour of his clothes, who does not speak and does not experience, dies slowly.
“He or she who abandons a project before starting it, who fails to ask questions on subjects he does not know, He or she doesn’t reply when asked something they do know, dies slowly.
“Let us try and avoid death in small doses, reminding one that being alive requires an effort far greater than the simple act of breathing. Only a burning patience will lead to the attainment of a splendid happiness.”
MaSisulu lived in the ANC; she breathed every moment within the ANC, asked every question and possessed the burning patience that gave us all hope. She, a mother within the African National Congress led a life that positively changed that of others. A life that played an integral part in our attainment of this splendid happiness called freedom.
If we can, at this time take her as our example, lead revolutionary lives as she lived, we would be able to display the discipline, honesty, dedication and humility that is required from us all.
MaSisulu, that you will be missed is in no doubt. That your outstanding contribution to this country shone and will continue to shine as a beacon of goodness is not debatable. That on this day, we as a nation are truly saddened to bid you farewell is in clear evidence. Mother of the nation, we salute you on this, our last opportunity to say farewell.
Our thoughts and prayers reach out from all corners of our country, among millions of our people, to touch your family and give them solace in this dark hour.
Your contribution to South Africa will never be forgotten. It is all around us. It is in the fact that we may go where we please, love whom we chose, be educated wherever we want, and every five years exercise our democratic right to vote. These are among the freedoms that you could not enjoy for the better part of your life …freedoms that we all, black and white, enjoy today, because you dared to struggle.
Hamba Kahle Mama, may your soul rest in peace.
