Feisty Wentworth activist mourned
FEISTY activist Myrtle Beaunior, who died at the weekend after suffering a stroke, was remembered by residents of Merebank and Wentworth as a fearless leader.
Beaunior, 55, was born and raised in Happy Valley, Wentworth and by the time she was 9 was already a member of an international organisation, Christian Life Group, recalled childhood friend Clifford Collings.
“She used to say that this group gave her wisdom and courage to work with the community, while teaching her to see the troubles of the less fortunate and empathise with their cause.”
After matriculating in 1980 Beaunior entered politics “full time”, Collings said, even though she rebelled against apartheid from an early age. He recalled how, in their matric year, Beaunior had encouraged pupils not to raise the old South African flag at assembly, or sing the national anthem.
She joined a group called the United Committee of Concern, which was later affiliated to the United Democratic Front (UDF).
The mother of two was also part of the formation of the Wentworth Residents’ Association (WERA) which ran an advice centre to assist people with their daily struggles, and a member of the Durban Housing Action Committee (DHAC).
One-time councillor and UDF leader Trevor Bonhomme described Beaunior as a “feisty, solid leader who used all means to fight for justice and the rights of black people”
“I met her at the UDF in the 1980s and her fighting spirit just caught my attention,” he said, adding he was disappointed she did not win a seat in this year’s local government elections.
“She was the type of person who did not let anything get her down. Even after she lost in the election, she still was a great leader in the community as she believed that everybody must experience the freedom she and fellow comrades fought for.”
Beaunior’s eldest daughter, Tremyne, said her mother went the extra mile for her children and grandchildren.
“I don’t know how she did it, but she did it. She took care of my children, of me, my sister and the community. That was the type of person my mother was.”
A memorial service will beheld at Austerville Community Hall in Wentworth at 6pm today (Wednesday). Funeral arrangements had not been finalised at the time of publication.