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Two anti-apartheid activists pass away 07/06/2011 03:16:17 I've been traveling through South Africa over the last couple months while the country has been mourning the loss of two of the great leaders of the anti-apartheid movement. First, Albertina Sisulu, who passed away a month ago and was affectionately known in the country as Mama Sisulu. She was a respected matriarch within the opposition movement and one of its leaders from the very earliest days. So early, in fact, that Nelson Mandela was the best man at her wedding in 1944. She holds the dubious distinction of being the first female political prisoner arrested under the apartheid regime. The second great leader was Kader Asmal, a Muslim born in the eastern part of the country who was forced into exile and spent many years leading anti-apartheid movements in the UK. He passed away at the end of June. When he returned to South Africa in 1990 he was an essential part of the negotiating team which helped organize the first democractic elections in 1994. In no small part it was his influence among others that prevented the country from descending into civil war. It's worth noting that both Sisulu and Asmal took faith to be an essential part of their work, though in different ways. Sisulu was a steadfast Anglican during her life, and when she died she requested a traditional liturgical service over a secular state funeral. Asmal also took his Muslim faith quite seriously, though over time he committed himself to multifaith cooperation, and chose to be remembered at his death as a respecter of all faiths. May their examples serve as inspiration for a new generation of African leaders. | |||||||||||
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