The Constitution Hill Trust Celebrates Albertina Sisulu

17 November 2008

Apartheid struggle stalwart, Albertina Sisulu, was on Saturday honoured by the Constitution Hill Trust at a very unique 90th birthday celebration held at the Women's Jail, Constitution Hill in Johannesburg.

Ma Sisulu, as she is fondly known, was honoured at a High Tea attended by amongst others former political inmates Rica Hodgson and Juby Mayet, Lilian Keagile and the daughter of the late Esther Barsel, Merle Ruff.  Professor Sidney Seepe and businessman Geoff Rothschild, of the JSE, also attended the celebration.

As part of the occasion, it was announced that a rose garden will be created in the garden of the vestibule of the Jail and planted with the rose named after Ma Sisulu, the Albertina Sisulu Rose, in celebration of her 90th birthday.  Another rose - ’The Rose to the Unknown Woman Victim' - was also announced at the function by Dr Ivan May, the Chief Executive of the Constitution Hill Trust, commemorating all the nameless women who have been victims of violence in our society.

The Constitution Hill Trust raises funds from the private sector to sensitise and educate South Africans, particularly the youth, about the facts of apartheid and promotes democracy, human rights and constitutionalism.  Forgive, but never forget.

Ma Sisulu was born in 1918 in the Eastern Cape and married Walter Sisulu in 1944.  In 1955 she joined the ANC Women's League. She was part of the women who led thousands of women to the Union Buildings in the famous 1956 Women's March.

For over 50 years she has been a struggle leader in her own right and exemplifies the role women played in liberating South Africa from oppression. Now in her 90th year, she continues to be a symbol of freedom and inspiration to South Africans young and old.

The Constitutional Hill Trust is a private sector trust promoting constitutionality, human rights and democracy through educational programmes conducted at the Constitution Hill

Issued by Quo Vadis Communications on behalf of the Constitution Hill Trust

Quo Vadis Communications and its staff may not be quoted on behalf of the Constitution Hill Trust.
 
Media Contact:

Khumbulani Mpofu
Quo-Vadis Communications
011 487 0026 and 083 695 2025
Email: khumbulani@quo-vadis.co.za 

Client Contact:

Dr Ivan May
Chief Executive
Constitution Hill Trust
011 082-900-4567
Email: amandla@iafrica.com