President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 for the late Mrs Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe, the wife of the late Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) founder Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.
Sobukwe passed on at aged 91 on Wednesday at home in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape Province. The late struggle icon received The Order of Luthuli in Silver for her tenacious call for freedom of the people and steadfast support of incarcerated freedom fighters. She challenged the injustices metered out against the large population of South Africans and stood the test of time.
This special funeral is reserved for distinguished persons specifically designated by the President of South Africa on request by the Premier of a province. The President has instructed that the national flag fly at half-mast at every station in the country for the late Sobukwe from the day of the announcement until the evening of the funeral service as a mark of respect to her. The details of the funeral will be announced in due course by the Eastern Cape Province.
I was fortunate to visit Mama's house in Graaf-Reinet 2016
She turned her living room into a museum to honour Prof Sobukwe
She showed me his suitcases&photos
Before I left her house
I raised my hand&said "Umhlaba"
She raised hers ✋????& softly said "ngowethu"
#RIPMamaSobukwe pic.twitter.com/3tH2sJ3nK4— TheBlackProtector (@_BlackProtector) August 15, 2018
Zondeni Veronica tells the story of how she met Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe
"When I first saw him, I think my heart skipped a beat. It was love at first sight."#RIPMamaSobukwe pic.twitter.com/iqBuFLkVZZ
— KatlehoMK (@KatlehoMK) August 15, 2018
"Nobody knows my husband's health better than I do"
After 91 years of Struggle, Suffering & Sacrifice; the mother of Azania has finally rested. Her husband, the love of her life, is probably the happiest ancestor this morning; they are reunited after 40 years. #RIPMamaSobukwe pic.twitter.com/E5HllwXtjn
— Ta Toolz (@ThulaniWrite) August 15, 2018
Before crocodile tears of certain politicians start flowing, let's remember that unlike other widows of fallen anti-apartheid heroes, Mother of Azania was left to rely on an old-age pension grant #RIPMamaSobukwe pic.twitter.com/NteNkDk2OP
— Peter Peele (@peterpeele) August 15, 2018
Poet extraordinaire Don Mattera dedicated a short poem to the Mother of Azania Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe – The Afrikan Queen#RIPMamaSobukwe
????Moziah Sipuye pic.twitter.com/KQ2hicZq9s
— KatlehoMK (@KatlehoMK) August 15, 2018
Thoughts and condolences with the loved ones of Mme Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe. ♥️???? @Sobukwe_Trust #RIPMamaSobukwe pic.twitter.com/bw8TiHr4Ok
— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) August 15, 2018
I don’t know what hurts me most, the passing of Mama or my ignorance of what she has done for our country during Apartheid. I am saddened by her passing because it only now that I get to know more about her over a few tweets that appear on the TL pic.twitter.com/EQPO7aeHkY
— Sefularo Keamogetswe (@Sefularo_Keamo) August 15, 2018