24 March 2009
The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Ntombazana Botha will speak at
the launch of the Dulcie September legacy project in Arcueil, France on 27
March 2009. During the launch, 23 students will receive the Dulcie September
Award for Humanity. Deputy Minister Botha and the Mayor of Arcueil, Mr Daniel
Breuiller will unveil a plaque and lay wreaths at the Dulcie September
Memorial.
Ms Dulcie Evon September was born on 20 August 1935 in Gleemoor, Athlone in
Cape Town. It was in the context of the struggles around education that she
received her baptism in politics. She joined the Cape Peninsula Studentsâ
Union, an affiliate of the Unity Movement of South Africa, in 1957. She later
left the unity movement to join a group of young militants known as the
National Liberation Front, or the Yu Chui Chan Club. She also qualified as a
teacher at Battswood Teacher Training College.
It was while engaged in the activities of the National Liberation Front that
she was arrested and detained without trial in October 1963. Early in 1964,
together with nine others, September was charged with conspiring to commit acts
of sabotage, and incite acts of politically motivated violence. In April 1964,
she was sentenced to five yearsâ imprisonment.
When she was released from prison in 1969, the government curtailed her
activities by banning her for 5 years. She left South Africa in 1974 for
Britain in order to further her studies. She joined the African National
Congress (ANC) in exile and threw herself into the work of the movement. She
won recognition and was in 1984 appointed Chief Representative of the ANC in
France, Switzerland and Luxemburg. Before the ANC sent her to Paris, she had
worked at the ANC headquarters in Lusaka and for the anti-apartheid movement in
London.
On 29 March 1988 she was murdered in cold blood as she was about to enter
the ANC office in Paris. Before her assassination, September had been
investigating trafficking of weapons between France and South Africa. Prior to
her murder in Paris, she had received death threats for eight months.
The impact of her contribution towards the liberation in South Africa and
the violent nature of her death resulted in the naming of a junior secondary
school after her in the town of Arcueil. The town also hosts various events
every year to commemorate her contribution to the South African struggle and
the ultimate sacrifice she paid to uphold the values of non-racialism and a
more inclusive democratic world.
In order to acknowledge her contribution towards the liberation of the
people of South Africa and the enormous personal sacrifices she made during her
life, national government has decided to pay a proper and fitting tribute to
this heroine. The components of this legacy project include a memorial lecture
and an exhibition.
âThe Dulcie September Legacy project is a reminder to all South Africans
that women played a pivotal role in the struggle for freedom and that they are
equal partners in the socio-economic development of our society,â Deputy
Minister Botha said.
Enquiries:
Eric Mudzanani
Tel: 012 441 3737
Cell: 082 940 0927
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
24 March 2009
