Fitting farewell for struggle stalwart

Published May 24, 2015

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Johannesburg - Ruth Segomotsi Mompati was a “towering giant” of the liberation struggle and spoke her mind about issues she felt strongly about.

This was the moving tribute about the life and times of Mompati made by President Jacob Zuma during her funeral service at the Vryburg Showgrounds in the North West Province on Saturday.

Mompati passed away on May 12 aged 89.

More than 5 000 mourners listened attentively to Zuma while he reminisced about Mompati’s fitting role in the struggle for liberation. The numbers of people who attended the funeral bore testimony to the role she played in the liberation struggle.

Zuma brought along most members of his Cabinet.

Zuma and former Gauteng Deputy Speaker of the Legislature and leader of the 1956 women’s march, Sophie de Bruyn, said Mompati was a “selfless leader”.

“Here lies a a towering giant in the struggle for democracy. Here lies an outstanding leader, an exemplary leader whose life is an embodiment of the values of the liberation movement,” Zuma said.

He described her as someone who believed in the unity of the ANC and collective leadership, saying she was responsible for the creation of the new South Africa.

Zuma said the decision of the apartheid regime to expel married black women from the teaching profession prompted the ANC martyr to fight against that decision, later joining the party.

“That made her fight for the rights of women. She became frustrated by the system and that made her to move to Johannesburg in 1952. She later became part of the 1952 Defiance Campaign.

“She joined the ANC’s Orlando branch in 1954 and later became a member of the ANC national executive committee.

“She discharged her responsibility impeccably and with ease. While working as a secretary of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo’s law firm, she became involved in a variety of campaigns which led to her becoming a member of a number of structures as well as the ANC Women’s League,” Zuma remembered.

He also said Mompati played a central role in the women’s anti- pass laws march on August 9, 1956.

However, it was when Zuma spoke about Mompati’s openness that he captured the attention of the mourners. He described her as a straight talker, reminding the mourners that Mompati had conservative views about the sexual orientation of men and women.

“She spoke her mind. I remember an incident in London, Ruth Mompati was asked by journalists about her views on gay and lesbian rights. In her reply, she told journalists that she believed that women must be women and men must be men. That was Ruth Mompati,” Zuma said.

He said her response had caused jitters in Lusaka – the then ANC headquarters – but that did not bother her at all.

“I also experienced her openness. It was in 2007. We were both in London. We met at the London Embassy. I sat next to her. A few minutes later, she asked me: ‘Tell me, what is the problem between you and Thabo (Mbeki)?’ I replied that there is no problem. She said Thabo gave her the same reply.

“She was a wonderful person in every respect. She spoke her mind,” Zuma said again.

Mourners appeared to be happy when Zuma extended words of condolence to the Mompati family on behalf of Mbeki.

Many who packed the show grounds in Vryburg had witnessed the souring relations between the two leaders but on Saturday Zuma created an impression that there was no acrimony between them.

“Thabo Mbeki asked me to extend his condolences to the family. He apologised for not being able to attend the final farewell due to circumstances beyond his control.

“He wishes the family strength during these difficult times,” Zuma concluded.

Political Bureau

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