Winnie, Sophia recall memories
De Bruyn spends 80th birthday at hospital
Sophia de Bruyn, the only surviving leader of the historic 1956 Women’s March, yesterday spent the afternoon of her 80th birthday at the hospital bedside of Struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
On August 9 1956, 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to deliver a petition against the carrying of passes by women.
The historic day is celebrated and commemorated as National Women’s Day.
Speaking to Sowetan at the Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg last night, De Bruyn said the hospital visit gave her an opportunity to have an intimate conversation with Madikizela-Mandela.
She said they laughed together and indulged in enjoyable recollection of their youthful days.
“I was keen to come here and spend time with mama Winnie,” said De Bruyn, who is a year younger than Madikizela-Mandela.
“We had a great time. She’s so full of enthusiasm and inspiration. She kept on saying that we must never give up.
“I was saying to her I felt very lost, was floundering and unhappy last year and the year before because our country was almost on a precipice.
“I told her that this year I have a bit of hope and she responded that all people should hold on to hope and we must make that hope work for us,” said De Bruyn.
De Bruyn’s family visited her at her home where they pampered her with a lovely breakfast yesterday morning.
“We had breakfast together and then they left to go to different homes.
“And then I was bogged down fielding birthday wishes coming fast and furious from all corners of the country.
“I also had a lot of international calls,” said the mother of three, grandmother of six and great-grandmother of two.
De Bruyn said she was happy to see individuals implicated in state capture allegations appearing before commissions of inquiry.
However, she said it was upsetting and painful that while Jacob Zuma was ANC president it appeared as if the arm of the law was slow to act against the implicated individuals.
Meanwhile, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has acknowledged De Bruyn invaluable contribution to the Struggle as she celebrated her birthday.
“We would like to wish aunty Sophie health and many more years to continue inspiring the generations of women and men who succeed her,” said the foundation's executive director Neeshan Balton.