Death of Struggle icon MaSobukwe a loss to PAC and the nation at large

The PAC received the news about the passing of Mama Veronica Zondeni Sobukwe with sadness.

The Mother of Azania, who was the widow of PAC’s first president, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, was a humble, loving and resistant woman.

She was not an attention-seeker but a responsible mother who understood her cause until the end.

As the PAC, we had already acknowledged the award of recognition she got from the democratic state [in April] but we emphasised that the timing was all wrong because they had forgotten her for far too long. There was an attempt to mute her and her colossal contribution to the liberation movement.

We will communicate with the mourning Sobukwe family about the arrangements [for her memorial and funeral services]. Let us borrow from the words of wisdom uttered by our founding father, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe: “We are the tools of history; if we go history we’ll find other tools to continue where we left off.”

Mama Sobukwe has done and completed what she came to earth to do; may her journey back home be showered with blessings and her soul find peace with God.

To the Sobukwe family, we wish to express our heartfelt condolences. Your loss as a family is our loss as the PAC and Africa as a whole.

Kenneth Mokgatlhe

PAC spokesperson