Affectionately known as a Mother of Africa, Albertina Sisulu is no more and she passed on at her family home in Linden, Johannesburg, yesterday at the age 92.
Her claim to fame is not that she was married to African National Congress stalwart Walter Sisulu and the mother of five outstanding political activists, Max, Mlungisi, Zwelakhe, Lindiwe and Nonkululeko, who have played a pivotal role in the democratization of our country.
That is merely a footnote to the life of a woman who dedicated herself to the struggle against apartheid.
As years went by, she was endeared with the name of Ma Sisulu. At the time of her death, Ma Sisulu had 26 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her husband, veteran anti-apartheid activist, Walter Sisulu, died in 2003.

Born in 1918, Albertina Sisulu had to look after her brothers and sisters from a young age after her mother passed away. She originally planned to become a nun, but became a nurse so that she could earn money to support her family. In 1944, at the age of 26, she married Walter Sisulu, who encouraged her to become more politically active.
She joined the ANC Women's League in the 1940s just before she met and married Walter Sisulu in 1944.

In the 50s she took part in the historic march of 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest the extension of the pass book to women. By 1964, her husband had been jailed for life but she continued the fight on her own.
Ma Sisulu raised the couple's five children alone. She spent months in jail herself and had her movements restricted by the apartheid government.
Ma Sisulu, trained as a nurse, campaigned against apartheid and for the rights of women and children. She was a leader of the United Democratic Front, a key anti-apartheid coalition in the 1980s that brought together religious, labour and community development groups. She also was a leader in the ANC and the ANC's women's wing.
She was the first woman to be held under the brutal 90-day detention order. And, her name is always included in a list of remarkable women: Helen Joseph, Lilian Ngoyi, Sophie de Bruyn, Dorothy Nyembe, Charlotte Maxeke, Ruth First, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Epainette Mbeki and Amina Cachalia. Many, like MaSisulu, marched on the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest pass laws and oppression.
Ma Sisulu remains a benchmark of what nursing, leadership and motherhood should be. She was a revolutionary in her own right. We are very grateful to be enjoying the freedom that she has sacrificed for. We will remember Ma Sisulu for her selflessness and dedication and remember the support she gave to all South Africans.
As the saying goes, behind every successful man, there is a very good woman. We would not have got the leadership from Walter Sisulu had it not been for the pillar of strength that stood beside him in the form of Ma Sisulu.
The Sisulu family spent most of their lives as ambassadors and leaders of the African National Congress, but in the process endured decades of banishment, detention, humiliation and exile. Ma Sisulu’s sacrifice together with others was the accomplishment of many thousands of selfless and unsung cadres who succeeded in rebuilding our country and the democratic structures we have today.
Ma Sisulu also served in parliament, taking a seat after the first democratic elections in 1994 and served four years. She spent the last few years of her life still deeply involved in several charities.
Today, daughter Lindiwe Sisulu is defense minister. Son Max Sisulu is the Speaker of the National Assembly. Daughter Beryl Sisulu is South Africa's ambassador to Norway.
I am sure that all South Africans will miss her dearly and we know her family will miss her even more and we extend our sincerest condolences to them. May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort the Sisulu family in the days ahead, and the comfort of God help the family during this difficult time.