The Insider - Walter Sisulu University

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2 was sentenced to life imprisonment. Mrs Albertina Notsikelelo Sisulu was also active in the freedom struggle, becoming a symbol of courage and determination and is acclaimed by the people as “mother of the nation.” She joined the ANC Women`s League in the 1940s and was elected its Treasurer in 1959. Sisulu was released from prison on 15 October 1989. He was elected Deputy Walter Sisulu marries Mama Thethiwe Albertina in the 1940s Walter Sisulu with his great friend and fellow comrade Dr Nelson Mandela on Robben Island in the early 70s. Page 2 President at the ANC national conference in July, 1991. Sisulu was a member of the Internal Leadership Core in 1991.He became an honorary Chancellor of the University of Venda and was awarded the Isitwalandwe by the ANC on the 80th Anniversary of the ANC, Bloemfontein, on 8 January, 1992. He continued to be passionately committed to the wellbeing of his community, especially children and young people. He and Albertina devoted much of their time to the Albertina Sisulu Foundation which built a multipurpose community centre in Orlando West, Soweto. Speaking to Tata Walter Sisulu’s youngest daughter Ms Nonkululeko Sisulu, a teacher in Soweto, she remembers her father as a man who embodied the quality of integrity. “Tata was honest, reliable and principled. He never acted in his own self interest but everything he did was motivated by love for his people and his organisation,” she remembers fondly. “He was always polite and respectful, even to his political opponents and enemies. He attacked wrong ideas and actions, but never personalities. In other words he always went for the ball and not the man. His is a spirit of leadership that should inspire the youth of today.” INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT WALTER SISULU: • Sisulu was a mentor of Nelson Mandela in his youth. • He was the organisational genius of the ANC. • He could not be immobilised. • He helped organise the armed struggle and Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”), a military wing. He helped organise Umkhonto and set up regional commands as its Political Commissioner. • Reports from prison indicated that 23 years of confinement had not shaken the faith and spirit of Walter Sisulu. • He had nerves of steel in crisis situations. • His unforgettable experience: In 1953, Walter Sisulu was the guest of the World Federation of >>
Democratic Youth at its third World Youth Festival in Bucharest, Rumania. • Walter Sisulu was a man of tremendous integrity, which made his communication with people of different political views very easy. He enjoyed a very high standing with people of all nationalities and ethnic groups who not only loved him but sheltered and protected him from police persecution at great risk to themselves. • In 1928, aged 16, the same year he got to Johannesburg he became the secretary of the “Orlando Brotherly Society”, a Xhosa organisation, which prompted an interest in tribal history and encouraged economic independence from whites. • In 1961 Walter helped Chief Albert Luthuli, recently announced winner of the Nobel Peace prize, deal with media attention. • In 1984, whilst in prison, Sisulu was awarded an honorary degree from York University, Canada. • In the 1990s Sisulu played a ceremonial figure role in the 1990-93 negotiations between the South African liberation movements and the incumbent Nationalist government and did much for conflict resolution. Walter in his Johannesburg office where he worked as an estate agent Page 3 HIS QUOTES • “I wish you were an African. Then you would know...” to prosecutor, Percy Yutar during the Rivonia Trial in 1963. • “I wish to make this solemn vow and in full appreciation of the consequences it entails. As long as I enjoy the confidence of my people, and as long as there is a spark of life and energy in me, I shall fight with courage and determination for the abolition of discriminatory laws and for the freedom of all South Africans irrespective of colour or creed.” – 1952 • “I will suffer under the system until I have defeated it”. • During his wedding to Albertina, she was warned that, “You are marrying a man who is already married to the nation.” • “Simple nationalist slogans are inadequate. Behind the great repressive state in South Africa is a ruling class based on complex forms of class and colour exploitation, each supplementing the other to oppress the African as a worker, peasant or human being.” Pictures courtesy of RaceMatters and Ezakwantu
Page 1 and 2: Issue 2 June 2010 The Insider The l
Page 3: Walter sisulu: A Man of Excellence,
Page 7 and 8: centre of development. In my view,
Page 9 and 10: Walter Sisulu University hosts WALT
Page 11 and 12: country like Finland used to be a r
Page 13 and 14: aid to promote the twin goals of eq
Page 15 and 16: WSU delegation attends Internationa
Page 17 and 18: WSU fashion: a celebration of MODER
Page 19 and 20: Professor Sandile Songca, Executive

The Insider - Walter Sisulu University

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