Hon Chair, Albertina Sisulu was a veteran of the anti- apartheid movement for as long as we can remember. She died on 2 June 2011, aged 92. The Sisulu family is known for their dedication to democracy. Mrs Sisulu lived to see three of her five children become leading figures in a democratic South Africa, of which hon Max Sisulu is the Speaker of the National Assembly and the hon Lindiwe Sisulu is the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Another daughter, Beryl Sisulu, is South Africa's ambassador to Norway.
In 1954 Mrs Sisulu, who was a qualified nurse, joined the Federation of South African Women and was present at many of the landmark moments of the anti-apartheid movement. These included the launch in 1955 of the Freedom Charter, which proclaims: "South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white."
On 9 August 1956, 20 000 women, black and white, marched to the Union Buildings to hand over petitions with 100 000 signatures to Prime Minister J G Strijdom. These women protested against the proposed amendment to the Urban Areas Act, commonly known as the pass laws of 1950. Women had to carry pass books wherever they went, and these were not issued easily or with understanding.
Outside, they stood silently for 30 minutes and then they sang a protest song, "Wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo!" - Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock! In the next 50 years the phrase or the later incarnation changed: You strike a woman, you strike a rock!
With our diverse cultures in South Africa we embrace the commemoration of the women in our country by accepting each other and our cultures inclusively and with pride.
Die Demokratiese Alliansie bring hulde aan die lewe van mama Sisulu en vir die rol wat sy in die demokrasie van Suid-Afrika gespeel het. [The Democratic Alliance pays tribute to the life of Mama Sisulu and for the role she has played in the democratisation of South Africa.]
We offer our sincere condolences to the Sisulu family. May your fond memories of her console you in your time of grief. I thank you. [Applause.]