President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences following the passing away of Mama Zondeni Sobukwe, 91, wife of Pan Africanist Congress founding President Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.

Mama Sobukwe passed away in the early hours today, Wednesday 15 August 2018.

President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the Sobukwe family, the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Foundation and the leadership and membership of the Pan Africanist Congress.

On April 28 2018 � and as an extension of Freedom Day celebrations � President Ramaphosa bestowed the National Order of Luthuli in Silver on Mama Sobukwe, who was affectionately known as Mother of Azania.

2018 also marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Robert Sobukwe.

On the passing of Mama Sobukwe, President Ramaphosa said: The loss � in Women’s Month – of Mama Sobukwe is a sad loss to the Sobukwe family, Foundation and our nation at large. We have lost a heroine of resistance and a fighter for the freedom of all South Africans, who continued her activism into our democratic dispensation. We will always remember and honour her extraordinary contribution.

Source: Government of South Africa