A dark cloud has befallen the struggling peoples of South Africa again. We have been robbed of two dedicated fighters - Comrade Kate Molale and Comrade Peter Sithole.
They met their untimely death in a car accident on May 3, 1980, in Tanzania.
Comrade Peter Sithole died on the spot, while Comrade Kate was in a coma until May 9 when she passed away. The African National Congress dips its revolutionary banner in memory of these patriots who have dedicated their lives to the liberation struggle of our country.
For us, the women of South Africa, be loss of Comrade Kate means a lot. She was one of the fine daughters of the soil, who, from their youth days, have ever known any life but the life of struggle for a free South Africa. Born on January 2, 1928, Comrade Kate became an active militant of the ANC Sophiatown branch in the early 50s. She was one of the leaders in the campaign against the racist regime's actions of forced removal of the people of Sophiatown.
In 1954 Comrade Kate was elected secretary of the ANC Sophiatown branch.
This was a period when the notorious Bantu Education Act was introduced and fierce campaigns were being launched against this slave education. Comrade Kate participated in these campaigns actively, her branch organised very successful pickets. She played a leading role in organising the Pioneer organisation in Sophiatown, then known as the Masupatsela(guides), which was initiated by our late comrade, Duma Nokwe, under her guidance. The Masupatsela played an important part during the Bantu Education boycott,and for many months children in Sophiatown, Brakpan, Orlando, Randfontein, Alexandra and many other parts of the Transvaal and the Cape stayed away from school.
Comrade Kate taught our children the true history of our country and prepared them for a life of struggle. At big rallies and important demonstrations, she was seen giving instructions to the Masupatsela in their uniform of black, green and gold, carrying placards, bringing water to the thirsty, singing freedom songs, selling posters and pamphlets etc. and carrying out many other important duties.
In 1955 she was in the Johannesburg delegation which went to the Native Commissioner to protest against the extension of passes to women, documents which had already brought untold misery to our men. The answer they received from the Native Commissioner was that he was not involved in the decision binding women to carry passes. He advised them to go to Pretoria to put their grievances before the Prime Minister. As they left the Native Commissioner's office, the delegation was arrested and charged.
Comrade Kate played an important role in the drawing up of the Freedom Charter and its adoption in 1955. She was one of the people who went around the country conducting a survey of what the people of South Africa would want their country to be after liberation-this is the Freedom Charter whose 25th anniversary we are celebrating this year. She was one of the women who went around the country organising women for the successful August 9, 1956 Anti-pass campaign. Comrade Kate was an active participant of the Alexandra bus boycott of 1957, which spread to other areas. She was very active in the anti-rent campaign and went around organising people not to pay the increased rents.
Due to her up all of her leadership qualities Comrade Kate served in the National Executive of the Women's League of the African National Congress, and had also served as Secretary of the ANC Youth League for the Transvaal Region.
Comrade Kate worked and campaigned whenever the ANC Executive needed her militant clear voice and spirit to mobilise our people against race and national oppression. She was always found among men doing the toughest tasks. She was far-sighted, a comrade who used to push her point and stuck to her principles at all times.
As a result of her activities, Comrade Kate was regarded as very dangerous by the regime. With the introduction of 90 days detention, she was amongst those detained. After her release she was forced to go underground.
Comrade Kate became a mother to hundreds of young men and women who left our motherland to join the People's army. Away from their parents, they needed a comrade who would respond to their needs and problems, and Kate served them well in this capacity. Between 1970 and 1975, Comrade Kate was assigned the task of representing our Women's Section in the Women's International Democratic Federation, the WIDF. It was during this period that she travelled widely to the Soviet Union and other European countries, Canada, Latin America and many other places. She was part of the delegation led by President O.R. Tambo which visited Cuba in 1978 during the World Youth and Students'Festival. At all these meetings and conferences, symposiums and seminars, she ably stated our case, soliciting and gaining support and solidarity for our struggle.
At the end of her term in office at the WIDF Comrade Kate was based in Morogoro, Tanzania, where she devoted herself to looking after the children born in exile, while their mothers carried on with their revolutionary duties. It was while there that our beloved mother and leader met her untimely death after a car accident. Through her death we have lost yet another, fighter, a dedicated comrade who gave to the struggle for freedom. Comrade Kate joins the list of our fallen heroines: Lillian Ngoyi, Mary Moodley, Vera Poonen, and many others to whom we give eternal glory. When freedom comes we shall attribute to selfless devotion and dedication. We pledge to continue where they left off.
From: Sechaba 1980, Vol.14