Albertina - a wife in mourning

2003-05-17 19:26

Johannesburg - Dressed in sombre black, Albertina Sisulu sat quiet on Saturday, watching as her children, President Thabo Mbeki and a host of other dignitaries sprinkled soil into the grave of her husband of almost 60 years, African National Congress veteran Walter Sisulu.

Earlier, her granddaughter, Vuyelwa Sisulu, read a moving tribute on her behalf, saying: "Walter, what do I do without you? It was for you who I woke up in the morning, it was for you who I lived.

"Your passing was a great shock to me. It was for you who I woke up in the morning, it was for you who I lived.

"You were taken away by the evils of the past the first time, but I knew you would come back to me. Now the cold hand of death has taken you and left a void in my heart," she said.

Vuyelwa covered her face with her hands and broke down as she approached her grandmother, Mbeki, and other dignitaries who were seated in the shade under a large marquee in front of the grave.

However, Sisulu's daughters could not contain themselves as the coffin was lowered into the ground. They sobbed incessantly. Their mother's expression remained calm throughout; so many tears already shed privately, according to those close to her.

Albertina Sisulu was the first person to sprinkle soil into the grave. She was followed by her children, Mbeki and his wife Zanele, former president Nelson Mandela, Deputy President Jacob Zuma, ANC leaders, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Lesotho Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili.

Sisulu was buried at the Croesus cemetery in Newclare, Johannesburg on Saturday - a day before he turned 91. He died in his wife's arms at their Linden home on May 5.

- SAPA