Latest news with #MaShope
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa to deliver eulogy at funeral of late 'Ma Gertrude Shope'
Ramaphosa honoured 'Ma Shope' with a Special Official Funeral Category 1 ceremony that will incorporate military honours. ANC veteran and freedom fighter Gertrude Shope passed away peacefully at her home in Gauteng at the age of 99. Picture: Supplied President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the eulogy at the special official funeral of the late former ANC Women's League President Gertrude Shope. Ramaphosa honoured 'Ma Shope' with a Special Official Funeral Category 1 ceremony that will incorporate military honours. Special official funeral The funeral service will take place in the Great Hall at Wits University in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on Saturday, with Ramaphosa expected to deliver the eulogy between 8am and 9am. Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the president has expressed his deep condolences to 'Ma Shope's' family and friends and her political home, the African National Congress (ANC) 'President Ramaphosa has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at flag stations around the country to the evening of the funeral. ALSO READ: WATCH: Mnganga-Gcabashe's dedication a wake-up call for 'ANC sleepers' – Ramaphosa Shope Ma Shope passed away last Thursday at the age of 99. Shope was an Umkhonto we Sizwe leader and the first president of the ANC Women's League following its relaunch in 1991. She also served on the ANC national executive, among many other roles she held in politics. Shope fought tirelessly against apartheid and for women's emancipation. ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said Shope was a 'lifelong revolutionary'. 'Ma Shope, born on 15 August 1925, was a leader of profound discipline, courage and humility. From her early activism to the dawn of democracy, she served the struggle with unmatched commitment – in the underground, in exile, and in the democratic Parliament. 'As former President of the ANC Women's League, head of the ANC Women's Section in exile, and a member of the ANC NEC, she played a pivotal role in shaping the political direction of our movement and the emancipation of women in South Africa and beyond,' Bhengu-Motsiri said. Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe Last week, Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy at the funeral of ANC Women's League deputy president Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe at a packed Durban ICC. Ramaphosa said Mnganga-Gcabashe was a courageous and graceful leader who served the ANC and South African women with unwavering dedication and dignity. 'We should continue building so that those who are said to be sleeping inside the ANC, who are called sleepers, should wake up from their stupor and realise that they are having a bad dream and wake up to the warm embrace of the African National Congress once again'. Mnganga-Gcabashe died earlier this month at the age of 64. ALSO READ: ANC Women's League veteran Gertrude Shope dies at 99
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Honouring Gertrude Shope: A champion of women's rights and courage in South Africa
The Tambo Foundation shared a picture of anti-apartheid Struggle stalwart Gertrude Shope on her 94th birthday on social media, describing her as a teacher, soldier, trade unionist, and freedom fighter. Image: Supplied by the Tambo Foundation Tributes are pouring in for Gertrude Shope, a revered leader in the anti-apartheid movement and former president of the ANC Women's League, who has passed away at the age of 99, leaving a lasting legacy of courage and dedication to women's rights and equality in South Africa. Shope died peacefully at her home in Gauteng on Thursday, a few months before her 100th birthday in August. National ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the stalwart of the liberation movement, also known as Ma Shope, was a pioneer of women's emancipation and one of the most enduring symbols of revolutionary courage. Bhengu-Motsiri said Shope was a revolutionary intellectual who was often quoted as saying: 'Every generation has got a responsibility to know what its mission is. Mine was to liberate the country, what is yours?' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ She said Ma Shope's legacy is one of unwavering dedication to the cause of liberation and equality. In recognition of her selfless sacrifice and her lifelong commitment to the Struggle for freedom, Bhengu-Motsiri said Shope was conferred the Order of Isithwalandwe/Seaparankwe, the highest honour bestowed by the ANC to those who gave their lives to the cause of liberation. 'Her contributions were not motivated by a desire for personal recognition but by her deep commitment to justice, equality, and the empowerment of women.' President Cyril Ramaphosa said Ma Shope made a monumental contribution to the Struggle for a free and inclusive South Africa, while inspiring generations of women and men to emulate her commitment. 'We have lost an eminent national heroine and mother to our nation,' he said. The president said her service and revolutionary bravery played out in formations from the ANC, where she was elected president of the Women's League in 1990, to the Federation of South African Women, the World Federation of Trade Unions, and the first Parliament of democratic South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Gertrude Shope. Image: Supplied Ramaphosa said her sacrifice included almost a quarter century in exile with her husband Mark Shope, who was a trade unionist, freedom fighter, and revolutionary intellectual, and their children. 'She organised women and communities in our country as well as international organisations to oppose apartheid and alleviate the plight of oppressed communities while the Struggle was under way.' Ramaphosa described Shope as a resilient and unwavering "mbokodo", which was used to refer to the security branch of the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto weSizwe, whom apartheid could not break. Anti-apartheid Struggle stalwart Gertrude Shope during her freedom fighter days. Image: Supplied by the Tambo Foundation Her entry into South Africa's first democratic Parliament in 1994 was marked by a dynamic presence and clear vision, establishing her as a model parliamentarian of that era, he said. 'Gertrude Shope lives on in our national memory and her life's work is reflected in the transformation we have attained and continue to effect in our society,' Ramaphosa said. The ANC Youth League said Shope died with courage, discipline, and humility. 'We honour her towering legacy and pledge to carry forward the struggle for freedom, justice, and dignity for all.' Cosatu national spokesperson Zanele Sabela said it is through stalwarts of Ma Shope's calibre and many others who dedicated their lives through the liberation movement to serving the masses, that the nation attained the democracy it now enjoys. According to Sabela, Shope significantly contributed to the recognition of human rights, amplified women's voices, fearlessly pursued justice for the vulnerable, and championed equality for women, bringing these principles with her to Parliament following the 1994 elections. Sabela said Cosatu recognises the active role Shope and her late husband played in the labour movement through the federation's predecessor, the South African Congress of Trade Unions, as well as the World Federation of Trade Unions. 'Ma Shope also played a key role in the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW). For her, freedom was not limited to the decimation of racial segregation. It also meant acknowledging workers in their sectors, a passion she embodied consistently,' she said. Sabela reminded South Africans to appreciate the altruistic sacrifices made by those who liberated the country from the bondage of apartheid. 'The achievement of our democracy came at a lifelong cost for Ma Shope and her remarkable family.' Cope acting treasurer Teboho Loate stated that Ma Shope's significant contribution to South Africa's liberation and her commitment to freedom and equality will be historically remembered. 'In many of her roles, she was a mother to many young South African leaders, in particular to Congress Of The People (COPE) and its membership. We offer our deepest condolences to the Shope family, her party, the ANC, and those affected by this profound loss.' 'May her legacy continue to guide and inspire future generations,' said Loate. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said Ma Shope was a courageous liberation stalwart and tireless champion for gender equality. 'From rejecting Bantu education as a young teacher to her leadership in the ANC and the Federation of South African Women, Ma Shope's life was a shining example of principled, selfless leadership and strong commitment to a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa.' Shope is survived by daughters Lyndall Shope-Mafole and South African Ambassador to Cuba Thaninga Shope-Linney.
TimesLIVE
22-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
ANC struggle hero Gertrude Shope dies peacefully at home, aged 99
ANC stalwart Gertrude Shope has died at the age of 99. According to the party, Shope, also known as MaShope, died peacefully at her Gauteng home on Thursday morning. 'A lifelong revolutionary, MaShope was a leader of profound discipline, courage and humility. From her early activism to the dawn of democracy, she served the Struggle with unmatched commitment in the underground, in exile and in the democratic parliament. 'As former president of the ANC Women's League, head of the ANC Women's Section in exile, and a member of the ANC NEC, she played a pivotal role in shaping the political direction of our movement and the emancipation of women in South Africa and beyond,' said the organisation on Thursday. Shope, who was one of the oldest members of the party, is a former trade unionist and the first Women's League president. Shope had been exiled in countries like Botswana, Tanzania, Czechoslovakia, Zambia and Nigeria, where she fought for the rights of workers and women. 'Even in retirement, MaShope exudes an air of majesty and dignity as a sage of the age, belonging to the same illustrious historical galaxy of revolutionaries that includes Charlotte Maxeke, Ruth First, Fatima Meer, Helen Joseph, Sophia de Bruyn, Ruth Mompati, Lillian Ngoyi and many more,' wrote former minister Naledi Pandor in celebrating Shope's life a few years ago. Shope was born in 1925 in Johannesburg and grew up in Zimbabwe. She was 29 when she joined the ANC, leaving her work as a teacher in protest against Bantu education. As part of the Federation of South African Women, she fought to make women's struggles part of the wider Struggle for a free society.
Eyewitness News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Former ANCWL president Gertrude Shope dies at 99
JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) has described late struggle icon, Gertrude Shope, as a committed freedom fighter who dedicated her life to challenging the systemic oppression of black South Africans. The former ANC Women's League president died at her Gauteng home on Thursday at the age of 99. The party announced her passing in a statement. Shope was the first president of the ANC Women's League following its relaunch in 1991. ANC NEC member Lindiwe Zulu acknowledged Shope's significant role in empowering and shaping the women within the party. "She was one of those unsung heroines. I think it's time that South Africans know about the history of Ma Shope." She explained her relationship with the former ANC Women's League president. "I was very fond of Ma Shope and the basis for that was the work she did in supporting us, those who were young in exile."
