GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Graaff-Reinet is mourning the death of one of the country’s liberation icons, Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe.

She died during the early hours of Wednesday morning, 15 August, at the age of 91.

The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) said in a statement that it is a sad day for SA.

"It is with great sadness that we wake up to the saddest news that we have lost one icon of the liberation, Mma Veronica Sobukwe."

She had been hospitalised for three weeks prior to her death at the Midland Hospital in Graaff-Reinet.

Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe was born on 27 of July 1927 in Hlobane Village in Kwazulu-Natal.

On 6 June 1954, she got married to PAC founder Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe in a traditional African wedding where she received the traditional bridal name of Nosango. Together they had four children Miliswa, Dinilesizwe, Dalindyebo and Dedanizizwe.

Mama Sobukwe, also known as “The mother of Azania,” played an important role in the liberation struggle and her life and was honoured by the sage Eskia Mphahlele with a poem entitled “Tribute to Zodwa Veronica, A Great Woman.”

• A tribute article will appear in next week's edition of the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser.

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