September 14, 2006
By Tammy O'Reilly
A SIMPLE plaque inscribed with the words "The Mother of African Freedom In This Country" has been unveiled in Soweto to honour the legacy of activist Charlotte Makgomo Maxeke.
The plaque is one of two initiatives undertaken by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) as part of Heritage Month, held annually in September.
SAHRA is also launching a pilot project record the names of those that died during the struggle against apartheid.
On Thursday, 14 September, the memorial to Maxeke was unveiled at the Nancefield Road Cemetery. The plaque also pays homage to the contribution other women made to the anti-apartheid struggle.
Maxeke first entered the history books in 1901 when she became the first African woman to graduate from the Wilberforce University in the US with a Bachelor of Science degree.
On her return to South Africa, she was instrumental in introducing the African Methodist Episcopal Church to the country.
Members of this church were to play a leading role in the founding of the African National Congress.
During her days as an activist she led the first anti-pass march to Botha's Hill in 1913 and later founded the Bantu Women's League.
Collecting names
The other SAHRA initiative involves the collection of names of South Africans who died during the apartheid struggle both locally and abroad.
"This exercise will inform any future policies that may be drawn up on the exhumation and repatriation of human remains and it's also a means of closure for relatives and family members," said Troy Philie, manager in the burial and graves unit of SAHRA.
Almost 10 000 names have already been gathered from existing records like newspapers and now defunct organisations that were watchdogs on apartheid and human rights violations.
In Gauteng alone, about 3 000 names that had previously not been recorded have been entered onto the list and that number will increase once more people become aware of the project.
"As the legislative body tasked with preserving our country's rich heritage, we feel it's our duty to honour the properties and graves of the people that played such a significant role in bringing about democracy," said Philie.
"That way we also keep their names alive and we remember the sacrifices that they made during that time."
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