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Affectionately known as the Mother of Azania, Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe passed away on the 15th of August 2018. In an article published by News24, Mam Sobukwe suffered a long illness and was in hospital for three weeks at Midlands Hospital, in Graaf Reinet, Easterm Cape.
It was reported that she died in the early hours of the morning after being discharged.
Her life may not have been in the public eye and some have argued that Mam Sobukwe has been erased from history in many ways. To honour her legacy, we spoke to News24 political reporter, Tshidi Madia who had spent time with Mam Sobukwe in her home a few years ago.
READ MORE: Women honour Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Here's what we should all know:
1. She was more than a struggle veteran's wife
Zondeni and Robert Sobukwe met during the struggle in 1949, according to an article by IOL. Mam Sobukwe was a student and nurse trainee at Victoria Hospital in Lovedale involved in a labour dispute with the hospital at the time.
She was among the group of people who led the strike which subsequently caught the attention of Robert Sobukwe who was the president of the Student Representative Council at Fort Hare University. Yes, she was a struggle veteran in her own right. And she single-handedly advocated for the release of Robert from Robben Island, bringing his deteriorating health to people's attention, says Pambazuka News.
2. She had a sense humour
Tshidi Madia speaks to her wit, saying "she was incredibly sharp, she was really funny and it is those nuances that were lost" by South Africans who did not know her. "South Africans did not get to know who the Mother of Azania really is" she adds.
3. 40 years after her husband's death, Zondeni was finally honoured
On the 28th of April 2018, she was finally honoured by President Cyril Ramaphosa. City Press reported that this was the first time she was honoured by the South African government, and received the "national order award from the Presidency because of the unwavering and diligent efforts of the young activists of the Blackhouse Kollective, who nominated her to receive the highest national honour in recognition of her unsung role in the fight against white supremacy."
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4. She was fierce
Tshidi highlighted that on top of her being an intelligent woman, she was also a fierce soul. We can see her bravery in the testimony she delivered at the Truth and Reconciliation where she detailed how her husband suffered at the hands of the Apartheid government. In her testimony she also reveals the lengths she went to get her husband released from prison.
5. The same strength that was in Mam Winnie was also in Mam Sobukwe
Tshidi highlights this by stating that, "South Africans must also remember that she was not just messenger, she was also targeted for the nature of being the spouse," of someone the Apartheid government considered dangerous. Tshidi reiterates that Mam also suffered in the sense that she was separated from her partner for a long time, "she stood strong with her family and remained loyal to Sobukwe even though he was alone on Robben Island under the Sobukwe clause."
So we need to remember that it takes a lot of strength to go through that. Tshidi adds that when one looked at her they would have identified with her strength, "It might not have been loud and as celebrated as Mam Winnie, but it was definitely there.
WATCH: Lebohang Pheko on Ma Sobukwe's political legacy
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