South African icon, Charlotte Maxeke remembered in Kliptown
Maxeke was the first black woman in South Africa to earn a degree, she founded the Bantu Women’s League (BWL) and was one of the leaders of the 1956 Women’s Anti-Pass March to the Union Buildings.
On the day that would have been her 150th birthday, Struggle stalwart, Charlotte Maxeke was honoured in Kliptown. Amongst her long list of achievements, Charlotte Mannya Maxeke was the first black woman in South Africa to earn a degree, she founded the Bantu Women’s League (BWL) and was one of the leaders of the 1956 Women’s Anti-Pass March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General, Ace Magashule led the commemorations that started at what used to be Maxeke’s home in Ford Street, Kliptown. The next stop was a wreath-laying ceremony at Nancefield Cemetary before a church session at the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Kliptown.
Speaking at the service, Ace Magashule said the month of April was the month celebrating the country’s great leaders.
“This month is a month of great giants, Charlotte Maxeke, The great giant, Winnie Madikizela Mandela, the great giant, Chris Hani. This month we are talking about people who were selfless and people who were humble leaders,” he said.
[also read] – President Ramaphosa Honoured Winnie Mandela in Meadowlands
Speaking to Soweto Urban, Charlotte Maxeke’s great-niece, Amkela Makanya said she was inspired by Maxeke’s legacy.
“Although I and the rest of the younger generation never knew her, I see the work she did and the legacy she left behind. As a young woman, I’m inspired just by hearing how she’s described in the family and the kind of person she was. I draw a lot of inspiration from her. But also it leaves the responsibility to us to continue her fight and everything that she stood for,” the 22-year-old said.
The initiative was organised by the Gauteng government and the City of Johannesburg (COJ) and the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute (CMMI). Speaking on behalf of CMMI, Simphiwe Leshabane extended her gratitude to the ANC for remembering Maxeke.
“As the institution, we celebrate Mama Maxeke every year, but this year is special and we are happy to be joined by the government who also declared this year as ‘the year of Charlotte Maxeke’. It inspires us to continue celebrating her legacy and continue empowering young women,” said Leshabane.
The ANCWL also held an ANC veterans’ lunch at Walter Sisulu Square in honour of Maxeke before conducting door-to-door visits in Ward 17.
Poem :@ntsikimazwai #CharlotteMaxeke commemoration ^NB https://t.co/eWszdnzPEh
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) April 7, 2021
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