The African National Congress has paid tribute to one of its cadres in the struggle who has since passed away. In a statement, the ANC said it felt heartbroken by the passing on of Caroline Motsoaledi who is the widow of Anti-Apartheid activist and Rivonia trialist, Elias Motsoaledi. Mama Motsoaledi, as she was popularly known passed away on Tuesday in hospital.
In their statement, the ANC said that Caroline Motsoaledi played a key role in the struggle during the 1960s. The liberation party said that despite facing numerous problems which included the incarceration of her husband, she did not think twice about working for the struggle against apartheid system. Elias Motsoaledi was one of the ten prisoners that included former President Nelson Mandela when they went on trial for, among other crimes, 221 acts of sabotage designed to overthrow the apartheid system.
The Gauteng branch of the ANC had made arrangements to send the party’s condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Mama Motsoaledi. They also said they would be visiting the family on Wednesday afternoon to pay their respects. They described her as a revolutionary leader of the people who was also a community educator of the people. Mama Motsoaledi is survived by six children from her marriage with The Rivonia trialist, Elias Motsoaledi. Burial arrangements of the activist who worked closely with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Albertina Sisulu during the struggle, are yet to be announced.