Death has once more robbed the entire oppressed but struggling masses of our country of one of the most dedicated and selfness fighters in the history of our struggle. On the 23rd of October, 1979, 66 year old Aunty Mary Moodley passed away, leaving behind an indescribable loss to the entire majority struggling for the seizure of political power.
Aunty Mary, as she was popularly known and adored by both young and old, worked energetically and tirelessly during her lifetime for the achievement of peace and happiness for all the peoples of our country. At the same time she understood that this can only come about if the black oppressed majority are given - heir inalienable rights in the country of the birth. As a consistent internationalist, she struggled not only for the unity of the working peoples of our country, but strove to bring all the exploited throughout the world together.
A distinguishing feature of Aunty's character was her deep love for all the people around her. Everybody knew that in the comfort of her humble home they - would always be given whatever help they sought. Aunty Mary's home was a haven for the suffering. All the persecuted and lonely people in her district and beyond came to her for comfort and help. There is no way of describing her warm-hearted personality, which made her over all these years plunge deeper and deeper into the work of helping all those suffering.
She lived in the Coloured area of Wattville Township and her two-roomed shack housed not only her large family and grandchildren, but also any one else who needed a home. One of the people whom she adopted was a blind and paralysed African man whom she had found Icing in the street -- a wreck Or the Apartheid system, for whom there was no hospital or State institution where he could be cared for, and also a White who was stranded- stayed with Aunty Mary.
The kind hearted nature of Mary Moodley did not shadow her deep hatred for the system of oppression and economic exploitation perpetrated by the white minority clique against the black majority of our people. Her love for the people created in her a deep resentment for the system and a firm determination to struggle to the bitter end. Her rich history of political activity is evidence of this. She was a regular church goer and though financially in great difficulties she was always ready to share.
Aunty Mary was a solid member of the African National Congress and a hardworking trade union movement organiser in the East Rand. As a founder member of the South African Coloured People's Congress, she strove until her death for the unity of all the oppressed and patriotic forces in our country, and in particular the merging of the trade union movement with the national liberation movement led by the ANC. Aunty understood the need for the unity of all races and political organisations sharing the same objectives. The wide representation at her funeral is evidence of this. As a woman or mother she moved from township to township during the 50's mobilising all women to join their menfolk in the demonstrations and boycotts that were tearing the vestiges of apartheid apart. Mary Moodley was therefore a grassroot organiser of the Federation of South African Women, the multiracial front of women's organisations that came into being in 1954.
The banning order that was imposed on her in 1963 in terms of the Supression of Communism Act did not deter Aunty Mary. Although she was prohibited from attending meetings or carrying on with any public work, being confined to her magesterial district, our glorious fighter continued to work for her people. The racists tried to clamp her down again in 1968, renewing the ban for a further five years and again in 1973 renewed the ban until March 31st 1978. Then at last it was thought that she would be free after 15 years of continuous bannings--this awaited freedom lasted only three days in which she relaxed at home, received friends and her relatives around her. But no, on the third day after the ban's expire, back came the security police to serve yet another 5 year ban on this ageing widow. Once more Aunty Mary was restricted to Benoni until 1983.
In Sechaba, Vol. 1 No 8, 1967, there is a story which typifies Mary Moodley, The doctors had told her that because of her heart complaint she should be on a costly diet. Her reply was typical: "How can I sit and eat expensive meat while the children eat porridge? I eat what they
It was while serving the ban but fighting relentlessly that Aunty Mary passed away at Benoni hospital of sugar diabetes and heart ailment The heart of our beloved Aunty stopped beating, but for us it will continue beating within the hundreds of revolutionaries. young and old, that Aunty groomed and prepared for the final onslaught against the racist minority in our country.
We in the African National Congress, all of us the oppressed but struggling peoples of South Africa we the tested cadres of our revolutionary army Umkhonto we Sizwe, all of us dip our revolutionary banner in loving memory of our relentless fighter, mother and patriot, Aunty Mary Moodley. Your name shall forever remain dear to our hearts and shall evoke a stab of fear in the hearts of the enemies of our people, for you always took the fight for a better life to every apartheid official. We join one of the daughters of Aunty Mary in saying: "My mother will go down fighting. And that's what makes us so proud of her."
Her funeral was tremendous, and it was a full Congress occasion, green. yellow and black rossettes fluttering everywhere and even some Federation blouses Speeches were made in a packed hall --it was like the old days again The most moving of all was that young men ran two miles, at the front of the funeral procession to the cemetery, in front of the hearse, arms up with clenched fists and singing freedom songs.
Our sincerest condolences go to all the bereaved. Not only to the family, but to the hundreds of those who have felt the grief of Aunty Mary's sudden departure Let us all vow to intensify our struggle which will be the only honour befitting our dear Aunty.