I-ANC Women’s League namuhla ngeSonto ikhumbule enye yezingqalabutho zomzabalazo nomlweli wamalungelo abasifazane, uNkk Gertrude Shope.
UMama uShope, njengoba ubaziwa kanjalo, udlule emhlabeni ngenyanga kaNhlaba (May) kuwona lo nyaka eneminyaka ewu-99. UNkz Naledi Pandor nguyena owethule isifundo ngempilo kaMama uShope.
Uthe ubesekudingisweni kusukela ngo-1966 waze wabuya ngo-1990. Umchaze njengesibani esasikhanyisela abantu besifazane futhi ethembekile kwi-ANC, ekwazi ukwenza umhlahlandlela.
UNkz Pandor uthe umkhumbula ehambele ingqungquthela yabesifazane eNarobi, eKenya, futhi ekhuluma kuzwakale. Ubengumhleli wephephandaba labesifazane iVoice of Women, esekidingisweni.
UMama uShope wazalelwa eGoli ngo-1925, waqeqeshwa waba nguthisha ngaphambi kokungena ezinyunyaneni. Kuthiwa wayengazwani nenkohlakalo futhi engezwani nabaholi abazithwalayo, babukele abanye abantu phansi.
“UMama uShope ngomunye wabahlela imashi yango-1956 yabasifazane, eyaya e-Union Buildings, abesifazane bebhikishela ukuphathiswa amapasi. Wabona ukwehla kwamandla e-ANC, kodwa ayikho into ayengayenza ngoba iminyaka yakhe yayisihamble. Ukuhlonipha uMama uShope, singenza i-ANC ibesemandleni futhi ngo-2029,” kusho uNkz Pandor.
