Durban - She is no longer nameless or faceless. Her name is Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo and she will be remembered as a fighter who transcended boundaries.
That was the sentiment shared by those at her emotional funeral on Saturday.
The woman, who until now was known as Khwezi, was laid to rest at the Stellawood Cemetery in Durban.
Before that, a service was held at the Central City Methodist Church in the CBD.
In addition to family and friends, the funeral was attended by talk show host Redi Tlhabi.
Khwezilomso Mbandaza, a friend and gender activist, shared her pain at not being able to celebrate life with Kuzwayo publicly while she was still alive.
“We could not talk about her, share pictures of her on social media, we could not share her life and achievements with the world because she had to hide. But she is now free and so are we,” Mbandaza said.
Childhood friend, Nomonde Rusike, asked the Kuzwayo family to remember their daughter as the carefree, loving, intelligent, individual she was.
Kuzwayo was advised to leave South Africa for security reasons after President Jacob Zuma was acquitted in the Johannesburg High Court of raping her.
She settled in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Shaun Mellers, who worked with Kuzwayo said: “She brought out the best in us. She made us believe the world was a better place.”
He questioned the support provided to Kuzwayo during her dark days.
In 2011, Kuzwayo left Amsterdam and settled in Tanzania.
Theresa Vatesa, who lived with her in Dar es Salaam said: “Khwezi never existed. It was a slave name and today it ends. We set her free!”
Prudence Mabele, a colleague who worked with her in HIV and Aids activism in South Africa, said: “I was very lucky to spend time with her. She was full of joy and love. She made a big impact in the lives of those living with HIV/Aids.”
Although Kuzwayo had been hidden behind a pseudonym, she brought meaning to the lives of others.
She is survived by her mother Beauty Sibongile Khuzwayo, her sisters Zinhle Khuzwayo and Nondwe Phosa, her aunt Cordelia Khumalo, and her niece Nokuzola Mbalenthle Khuzwayo.
Her father Judson Diza Kuzwayo was an anti apartheid activist who died in exile in Mozambique.
Sunday Tribune