It is with deep regret and a profound sense of loss that the African National Congress(ANC)in the Eastern Cape has learnt of the passing away on ( Saturday 8 September 2018)of Buyiswa Fazzie, widow of the late former political activist,political prisoner, UDF leader, ANC MP, Henry Fazzie and an outstanding stalwart of our movement.She has been ill for sometime .
The ANC joins all South Africans in mourning the loss of a true heroine of our nation, a daughter of our soil who dedicated her life to the freedom of our people.Together with all South Africans, the ANC extends heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the Fazzie family on this great loss.
A stalwart of our revolution is no more. A mother, a grandmother, a leader of the FEDSAW, UDF, PEWO and ANCWL and a mentor to thousand of younger generations is no more. What she has left behind for us is a legacy to cherish and to honour in action.Together with the late Mamu Ntutu Mabhala and Ivy Gcina they formed Port Elizabeth Women’s Organization (PEWO) to carry women’s struggles. The African National Congress deployed Mamu Fazzie to the National Assembly in 1994 as a Member of Parliament until 1999.
A former political activist in her own right, Buyiswa Fazzie fought to ensure that women were an integral part of the liberation struggle and should assume their rightful place in society.
Throughout the most difficult times of the struggle for democracy,Buyiswa Fazzie’s strength, compassion and determination served as inspiration to generations of freedom fighters.
We are proud of the fact that in her time as a political activist , Mamu Fazzie fought to ensure the liberation of Africans in particular and blacks in general from the yoke of apartheid and she played her part without ever vacillating.
In a lifetime dedicated to the achievement of South Africa`s liberation, Buyiswa Fazzie demonstrated fortitude in the face of adversity and responded selflessly to the sacrifices demanded of her and her family.
Mamu Fazzie was an overall activist and understood the relationship between racial oppression, class oppression and gender oppression, especially the most unrealised aspects of the gender struggle. In her much appreciated role as a worker in the health sector, she brought life into this world and in practice demonstrated the values of which she fought, that of selflessness and a caring nation. Even after her stint as an administration worker within the Dept of Health , she carried out these duties as part and parcel of her commitment to serving her people.
Mamu Fazzie played an important role in providing support to one of the most revered leader of our movement when he was a subject of police harassment and endless unfair detention. In her own right she was an activist and an important leader of women struggles.
We dip our black, green and gold banner in hour of this heroine of our revolution. We extend condolences to family and friends, to comrades in the ANC and the ANC WL and the entire liberation movement.
Funeral details will be forwarded later.
Issues by the ANC Eastern Cape Communications
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Gift Ngqondi
Head of Communications
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Judy Mpetsheni
Media Liaison Officer
Mobile No: 0636878267/0731176194
