Nontsikelelo Albertina Sisulu, also known as Masisulu, died on June 2, 2011 at the age of 92. She believed every life mattered and worked tirelessly to restore human rights and dignity for those harmed by apartheid. During apartheid Masisulu survived repeated detention and solitary confinement. Her husband, Walter, spent 7 years as a political prisoner on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and others.
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Albertina Sisulu was “one of the most important women leaders of the anti-apartheid resistance in South Africa”.
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Midwife, Defender of Human Rights and Dignity, ANC Women’s League
Masisulu qualified as a midwife in 1954 working in Johannesburg townships. She joined the ANC Women’s League in 1949 and became the first deputy president of the organization in 1991. The South African Government will give Albertina Sisulu an official funeral for her contributions to the country’s liberation struggle.
Her funeral will be held at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday June 11th. Albertina Sisulu will be buried at Coerus Cemetery in Johannesburg next to her husband Walter.
Foreign dignitaries who will attend the funeral include the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Pakalitha Mosisili, Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, and the Namibian National Assembly Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab. Nelson Mandela’s wife, Graca Michel, will present his farewell during the ceremony.
