President Jacob Zuma pays special tribute to the late Mama Albertina Sisulu

03 June 2011

President Jacob Zuma has paid a special tribute to Mama Albertina Sisulu, who passed on last night at her house in Johannesburg at the age of 92. A matriarch and a nurse by profession, Mama Sisulu was one of the foremost mothers of the nation and the last of the colossuses of the struggle for the liberation of South Africa.

“Mama Sisulu has over the decades been a pillar of strength not only for the Sisulu family but also the entire liberation Movement as she reared, counselled, nursed and educated most of the leaders and founders of the democratic South Africa” said President Zuma.

“While we mourn her loss, we must thank her most profoundly for the selfless service to all South Africans and humanity at large, for her generosity of spirit and for teaching the nation humility, respect for human dignity and compassion for the weak, the poor and the downtrodden” said the President.

A former president of the massive United Democratic Front and together with her late husband, Walter Sisulu, Mama Sisulu dedicated her entire adult life to the struggle for liberation in South Africa, in the process enduring decades of banishment, detention, humiliation and ultimately exile, where the Sisulu’s spent most of their lives as ambassadors and leaders of the African National Congress.

South Africa remains eternally grateful and indebted to this stalwart of the liberation and an assuming leader of all races of our people. “On behalf of Government and the people of South Africa, we would like to convey our deepest condolences to the Sisulu family and thank them profusely for dedicating their daughter, mother and grandmother to the service of humanity,” President Zuma said.

Enquiries: Zizi Kodwa on 082 330 4910

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria