Nation mourns Mother of Azania
Sobukwe gave her life to the people’s Struggle
The Sobukwe family will remember Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe‚ the wife of Pan Africanist Congress founder Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe‚ for her “humility and simplicity”.
Mama Sobukwe died at 2am yesterday‚ aged 91‚ after being discharged from the Midlands provincial hospital in GraaffReinet, in Eastern Cape, on Tuesday.
“The Sobukwe family is deeply grateful for the gift of her life and the innumerable lessons she leaves behind‚ and even as we mourn her passing‚ we celebrate her humility and the simplicity with which she approached and viewed life. Indeed‚ a great tree has fallen‚” the family said in a statement.
ANC national executive committee member Zizi Kodwa said Sobukwe endured pain, rejection and immense suffering visited on her by the apartheid regime.
“Mama Zondeni was this year bestowed with the national order of Luthuli for her anti-apartheid activitism. National orders are awarded to South Africans who have made a meaningful contribution to the struggle for democracy as well as human rights,” Kodwa said.
EFF national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said Sobukwe was among women who went through hell due to the activism of her husband who was feared and hated by the apartheid regime.
“We bid her farewell and ask her to report to all veterans of the Izwelethu movement, that finally, 24 years after democracy, South Africa will expropriate land without compensation for equal redistribution,” Ndlozi said.
Sobukwe had been admitted to hospital six weeks ago.
According to the family‚ Mama Sobukwe dedicated most of her adult life to the cause of the Azanian people‚ which earned her the moniker “Mother of Azania”.
The family described her as one of the most defiant and fearless icons of the Struggle against racism and white supremacy in South Africa
Mama Sobukwe‚ according to the family‚ was born in Vryheid‚ KwaZulu-Natal.
“She had her first experience of racism and direct confrontation with the apartheid state police at an early age‚ and she consistently challenged the ruthless authorities, calling for justice on numerous occasions throughout her life.
The family said it will release details of the memorial and funeral services once they have been finalised.