News of the death of African National Congress (ANC) struggle stalwart, mother of defence minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, and the wife of the late ANC leader, Walter Sisulu, was confirmed by Beryl Simelane, one of Sisulu’s adopted daughters. Albertina Sisulu died at her Linden home in Johannesburg on Tuesday night, June 2, 2011. She was 92-years-old. Albertina was the widow of late ANC stalwart Walter Sisulu. She was widely regarded as the “mother of the nation”, and was often described as “a symbol of courage, fortitude and calm endurance.’ Sisulu endured terrible suffering and torment at the hands of the apartheid state yet remained resilient and determined: ” … Although politics has given me a rough life, there is absolutely nothing I regret about what I have done and what has happened to me and my family throughout all these years. Instead, I have been strengthened and feel more of a woman than I would otherwise have felt if my life was different.”
She leaves 23 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
Albertina was the mother of five children, including Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu and businessman Zwelakhe Sisulu. She and Walter also had four adopted children. She leaves 23 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Albertina Sisulu continued to play an active role inthe country. In 2003 the Albertina Sisulu Multi-purpose Resource Centre was launched in Soweto. The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre in Sunninghill Hospital was closest to her heart. She was keen for people to come out about their HIV status and Aids education was vital, she said. She had lost family members to the virus. Her funeral will take place on June 11, 2011at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. President Jacob Zuma announced earlier that she would receive a special category 1 state funeral with military honours. Such funerals are usually reserved for the head of state and ministers.
Albertina Sisulu Memorial Tribute Part 01
Albertina Sisulu Memorial Tribute Part 02
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