'She was recruited to the underground structures of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's military wing, at the age of 63'
President Jacob Zuma has extended his condolence to the family of Ms Nokuhamba Nyawo, a freedom fighter who received the National Order of Luthuli in December 2009 from the President, for her selfless commitment and loyalty to the struggle for a peaceful, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.
She passed away on Monday, 5 March 2012 after an illness.
Ms Nokuhamba Nyawo was born on 1 January 1920 in Ingwavuma, northern KwaZulu-Natal. She was recruited to the underground structures of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's military wing in 1983, at the age of 63, when MK had decided to start waging rural guerrilla warfare, as opposed to the urban guerrilla warfare which had characterised the struggle in the preceding years.
She was in the unit that operated in and around Ingwavuma. Her brief was to look after the guerrillas who were based in Ingwavuma. This included gathering intelligence about the movements of the enemy; being responsible for logistical supplies to the guerrillas; identifying possible recruits; providing courier services to and from Swaziland; and transportation of weaponry from Swaziland to Ingwavuma and from Ingwavuma to inland KZN.
She was a dedicated cadre who involved her whole family in the struggle. They got to know and supported the guerrillas in the bush.
She was arrested with four of her children in 1985 under the notorious Section 29 of the Internal Security Act. It was during her arrest and trial that she demonstrated her heroism and dedication to the struggle of the people of South Africa.
Even though she was very sick with diabetes and high blood pressure, she resisted torture and humiliation at the hands of the Security Branch.
Her brother Nongolozi Jameson Mngomezulu, who worked closely with her, died a gruesome death after being abducted by police from Swaziland and was severely tortured until he died. The police, needing to get rid of the body, blew it up at a missile range near Sodwana Bay. He was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver in 2010.
"We have lost a unique patriot and freedom fighter who defied stereotypes and perceptions and performed tasks that were hardly associated with women, especially at 63 years of age.
"She put her country first and nothing mattered most to her than to see her people and her country free from racism and colonial oppression.
"As we mark International Women's Day on Thursday the 8th of March, we will remember this outstanding compatriot. We are grateful to her, her brother and the entire family for fighting until the end, for a free, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, to the African National Congress and her community in Ingwavuma,'', said President Zuma.
President Zuma salutes a unique freedom fighter
'She was recruited to the underground structures of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's military wing, at the age of 63'
President Jacob Zuma has extended his condolence to the family of Ms Nokuhamba Nyawo, a freedom fighter who received the National Order of Luthuli in December 2009 from the President, for her selfless commitment and loyalty to the struggle for a peaceful, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.
She passed away on Monday, 5 March 2012 after an illness.
Ms Nokuhamba Nyawo was born on 1 January 1920 in Ingwavuma, northern KwaZulu-Natal. She was recruited to the underground structures of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's military wing in 1983, at the age of 63, when MK had decided to start waging rural guerrilla warfare, as opposed to the urban guerrilla warfare which had characterised the struggle in the preceding years.
She was in the unit that operated in and around Ingwavuma. Her brief was to look after the guerrillas who were based in Ingwavuma. This included gathering intelligence about the movements of the enemy; being responsible for logistical supplies to the guerrillas; identifying possible recruits; providing courier services to and from Swaziland; and transportation of weaponry from Swaziland to Ingwavuma and from Ingwavuma to inland KZN.
She was a dedicated cadre who involved her whole family in the struggle. They got to know and supported the guerrillas in the bush.
She was arrested with four of her children in 1985 under the notorious Section 29 of the Internal Security Act. It was during her arrest and trial that she demonstrated her heroism and dedication to the struggle of the people of South Africa.
Even though she was very sick with diabetes and high blood pressure, she resisted torture and humiliation at the hands of the Security Branch.
Her brother Nongolozi Jameson Mngomezulu, who worked closely with her, died a gruesome death after being abducted by police from Swaziland and was severely tortured until he died. The police, needing to get rid of the body, blew it up at a missile range near Sodwana Bay. He was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver in 2010.
"We have lost a unique patriot and freedom fighter who defied stereotypes and perceptions and performed tasks that were hardly associated with women, especially at 63 years of age.
"She put her country first and nothing mattered most to her than to see her people and her country free from racism and colonial oppression.
"As we mark International Women's Day on Thursday the 8th of March, we will remember this outstanding compatriot. We are grateful to her, her brother and the entire family for fighting until the end, for a free, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, to the African National Congress and her community in Ingwavuma,'', said President Zuma.