Zinzile MavusoThe Ahmed Kathrada Foundation extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades of anti-apartheid struggle veteran, Rita Ndzanga. We recall with great sadness the bonds of friendship between the Ndzanga family and the Kathrada Foundation Just a week ago, on Sunday, 7 August, we were joined by the struggle stalwart at a tribute event in honour of the women of the 1956 campaign. Speaking at the gravesite of Helen
Joseph and Lilian Ngoyi, Ma Ndzanga said, “Women must come together, through our different forms of struggles, and continue to fight night and day for our freedom”. The trade unionist spoke of how she continued to bow down in prayer for a better country, one with freedom and dignity for all. She also praised Lilian Ngoyi for her relentless fight against
oppression, up until her death. Rita Ndzanga was part of the 1969 ‘Trial of 22’, which pitted the apartheid state against Ndzanga and her fellow accused. Her husband Lawrence Ndzanga was also part of the same
trial. Ma Ndzanga was detained and tortured by the apartheid police, in one instance not being allowed a change of clothing for six months.
In 1994, Rita was elected to the Gauteng Provincial Council and was deployed to the Council of Provinces. In 1999 and 2004, she was elected to National Assembly where she served on various Committees including Rural Development as well as Labour. She retired from Parliament in 2004 and was the awarded the Order of Luthuli (Silver). In 2018, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation together with the Lawrence Ndzanga ANC branch
launched a publication on the life of anti-apartheid struggle veteran Rita Ndzanga. Board member and struggle activist Prema Naidoo who spoke at this event remembers Rita as an outstanding comrade and a great revolutionary. “Ma Ndzanga will always be remembered for the pivotal role that she played during the struggle. In 1969, she was sentenced alongside my sister Shanthi Naidoo, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and others,” said Prema Naidoo. The Foundation also hosted a screening of the documentary Ahmed Kathrada: A Man for All Seasons at the Lawrence Ndzanga ANC branch in Soweto, Phiri.We will always remember and admire Ma Rita Ndzanga who until the end embodied the best values and traditions of the liberation struggle and personified the ideal of service without the expectation of reward. Robala ka kagiso.
