Beloved Chinese leader Shue Chee Pon, 109, dies
JOHANNESBURG’S Chinese community is mourning the loss of their beloved matriarch, Shue Chee Pon, who died this week at the age of 109.
Her daughter Gloria, 76, told the Saturday Star that she died peacefully at the Rosebank Hospital on Tuesday following a leg fracture she sustained in a fall last week.
“She was an incredible person and we will miss her dearly,” Gloria said.
Pon was a leader in her community and was even instrumental in a recent court victory against discrimination and hate speech which the local Chinese community faced.
“For five years she attended every court case and she was even there in July this year when we won the case,” Gloria said.
Pon arrived in South Africa from China in about 1937 with her then 2-year-old son and newborn daughter, just after her husband had settled in the country.
Later the nation was under apartheid, which meant that the Chinese, as well as other race groups, were segregated by law and were forced to attend their own schools.
They were then instrumental in setting up the Pretoria Chinese School and later on they set up several Chinese stores across Johannesburg.
This includes one in the Joburg CBD that is affectionately known as the city’s own Chinatown. This store, as well as many others of its kind, sold furniture, clothing as well as Chinese goods.
The Pons went on to have eight children, four boys and four girls, six of whom were born in South Africa.
Shue Chee also has about 30 children and 30 grandchildren who were all born in South Africa, though many of them have since moved overseas.
“All of her family members in South Africa all had a room or cottage for her and she was so loved.”
Gloria explained that while her mother was old, she was very active and a leader in the Chinese community.
“She had a profound philosophy of life. She was dedicated to her family and community. She was a problem solver and someone who never turned away from people.”
She said that her mother was passionate about her culture, was a very religious person, loved doing charity work, enjoyed gardening and loved to read and write, even in her later years.
“She was an avid follower of the news and loved reading The Star and the Saturday Star,” Gloria said.
She said her mother was also committed to her health and frequently practised yoga and Tai-chi. She also followed a healthy diet, which she credited for her incredible health.
“She did not eat a lot of meat and loved drinking Chinese tea, without any milk or sugar.”
Shue Chee will be laid to rest tomorrow at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Victory Park, Johannesburg.