SPEECH BY ANC TREASURER-GENERAL MATHEWS PHOSA AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE OF MAMA ALBERTINA SISULU AT THE JOHANNESBURG CITY HALL 

Wednesday, 8 June 2011

1. If anyone ever fully deserved the title of Mother of the Nation it was Albertina Sisulu.

2. She was our mother in many different ways:

• A physical  mother, both to her own children and hundreds of others who visited and stayed at her and Walter Sisulu's home.
• A spiritual mother, as she embodied all the values that we strive and hope for in our country.
• A guiding mother as someone who quietly advised and pointed the way, without getting lost in the non-productive emotions of aggression and anger
• A comforting mother, as someone who went through all the pain and hurt of apartheid herself, but never allowed it to diminish from her outreach to others, and her embodiment of bravery and integrity.

3. Let us never forget that she was banned for almost two decades, and, as a result of that banning, had almost lost her much treasured ability to look after her children and family.

4. During that time she never lost her charm, her dignity, and her ability to inspire each and every person that she came into contact with.

5. She literally created a womb for the downtrodden and oppressed to hide in, and to feel the warmth of her character, her spirit, and her peaceful and dignified resistance.

6. What are the lessons that we can take from her life, and use as guiding principles as we attempt to pick up her spear:

• A strong family unit, such as the one that she and Walter provided to their family, forms the basis of any healthy and strong society.
• The role of the mother as the glue that holds the broader family together is still as valid today as it ever, was
• As a mother in the deepest sense, women are, by definition, leaders, and none was more so than Ma Sisulu.
• Resistance can be calm, dignified and peaceful. When anger is not met by anger, resistance is at it's most powerful and strongest.
• Our sense of family is strengthened by the examples of leaders such as Mrs Sisulu as a result of her example of making the family home a parliament of debate, of education, and of warmth, caring and love.
• Leadership is not defined by circumstance  nor title, it can manifest in any place, from simple homes to the National Assembly.

7. We are all children and pupils of the Sisulu's,of both ma Sisulu and Walter-long may their memories live in our hearts and minds, and long may their examples guide and pull us into the future.

8. Whenever we stumble, we can look to their lives to assist us in finding our way to our final liberation, that of an fully educated and economically strong South Africa.

9. We also stand here today in happiness and joy: namely that Ma Sisulu and her family could live to see and taste the fruits of liberation that they fought so hard for, and suffered so deeply to achieve.

10. Through her, and her husband, as well as her family's life, she liberated us all!!

Thank you.

Issued by the African National Congress, June 8 2011

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