Hon Speaker, on behalf of the IFP, I would like to associate myself with the motion of condolence for the late Mrs Bertha Gxowa. The IFP salutes a true champion of human rights, especially women's rights. Her sense of justice and gender equality moved her to volunteer to be in one of the first groups of defiance campaigners who went into Krugersdorp without permits. She was subsequently arrested for this and spent 10 days in prison after refusing to pay a fine.
She was indeed a great example for other women as she took every opportunity to educate herself. For instance, she made use of the opportunity presented to her by the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union to study bookkeeping and shorthand at a commercial college. Her excellent contribution to the trade union and the political struggle against apartheid earned her the Order of Luthuli in silver on 22 April 2008.
Her political career gained momentum when she joined the ANC Youth League during the anti-Bantu education campaign. She became a founding member of the Federation of South African Women, which organised the historic Women's March against pass laws to the Union Buildings in 1956. She was responsible for the 20 000 petitions against the pass laws that were collected for this march and, by the way, she was the youngest of them all.
Between 1956 and 1958 Bertha was a defendant in the Treason Trial, and in 1960 she was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act, a status she retained for 11 years. Once her banning order was lifted, she joined the SA National Tuberculosis Association, doing community work.
Mrs Gxowa also sat as chairperson on the boards of two women's skills development projects, Malibongwe and Kwaze Kwasa. Both these projects are committed to the total emancipation of women.
Hon Speaker, the IFP salutes Mrs Gxowa for her display of absolute integrity and grace while she was a member of this House. She was a true pioneer, a prime example and inspiration to other women.
Ngesikhathi ngifika lapha ePhalamende, ngahlangana naye kanti sasikade sisebenza ndawonye eGauteng ngaleziya zikhathi ezazinzima. Sahlangana sahlela umkhuleko omkhulu ngesikhathi uNdunankulu waseGauteng kungudokotela uMathole. Sathi ngokhetho lwangonyaka ka-2000, ngeke lube khona udlame eGauteng. Sama nomama uBertha, ngempela aluzange lubekhona udlame kuze kube yinamhlanje.[Ihlombe.]
Uma kuza kwezepolitiki, bekunguye umngani wami, umngani wami omkhulu ngoba sasenza izinto zenzeke eGauteng. Uma kunamaphrojekthi, uBertha ubengakhethi iphela emasini, wayazi ukuthi wonke amantombazana aseNingizimu Afrika kufanele angene azuze. Ngiyacela ukuthi nakulawa mantombazane alapha - uyazi-ke umama uMhlonishwa u-Angie - sibuya kude nabo siphethe iGauteng njengoba ithule inje.
Ngakho-ke ngimi lapha ngokuziqhenya okukhulu ngoba ubengibiza ngesicwicwicwi. [Uhleko.] Ngenxa yokuthi besisebenza ngokubambisana ezintweni zonke ebezenzeka eGauteng ... [Uhleko.]. Ehheee! phela besigqoka kahle ... [Uhleko.] Izingane zaseGauteng bese zisibiza ngalo leli gama elithi 'izicwicwicwi'. Uma ngingekho bebebona ukuthi ziyashoda izicwicwicwi. [Uhleko.] Uma engekho uBertha nabe-IFP bebebona ukuthi kukhona okusilele. I-Kwazekwasa le besiyibambe naye umama uBertha. Mhlonishwa u-Angie, usuyobaxoxela-ke mfowethu. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[When I came to Parliament, I met with her - in fact, we were working together in Gauteng during those hard times. We met and organised a big prayer meeting when Dr Mathole Motshekga was the Premier of the Gauteng province. During the 2000 elections, we said there would be no violence in Gauteng. We stood firm with Mrs Bertha Gxowa, and indeed there was no violence, up until today. [Applause.]
When it came to politics, she was my best friend because we succeeded in whatever we did in Gauteng. With regard to the projects, Bertha was never biased; she knew that all the South African girls had to be involved and had to benefit. I'm appealing to these girls who are here - hon Angie knows we have come a long way in managing Gauteng since it is still so quiet.
Therefore I stand here with great pride because she used to call me a well- to-do person as well. [Laughter.] We really worked co-operatively, in everything we did in Gauteng. [Laughter.] Indeed! We used to be well dressed. [Laughter.] The Gauteng children called us "well-to-do people". If I wasn't there, they would feel that one of the well-to-do people was missing. [Laughter.] If Bertha was not around, even the IFP members would feel that something was missing. We were working together with Bertha in this Kwaze Kwasa. Hon Angie, colleague, you will then tell them more. Thank you. [Applause.]]