Helen Suzman laid to rest

2009-01-04 16:10

Johannesburg - Anti-apartheid activist Helen Suzman who died on New Year's Day was on Sunday buried in a private Jewish ceremony attended by top politicians and close friends in Johannesburg.

Among the mourners was former president FW de Klerk, current President Kgalema Motlanthe, Winnie Mandela and Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille.

"I spoke to her a few weeks before her death and she was very concerned about the current state of politics in our country," said De Klerk.

"She is one of South Africa's great icons," he added.

Suzman, a white Jewish immigrants' daughter served in South Africa's legislature from 1953 to 1989 - a lone voice of parliamentary dissent against white minority rule.

She died peacefully on Thursday at her home in Illovo, Johannesburg.

"Suzman was my mentor, she was opposed to the abuse of power by the old apartheid government, she was also opposed to the current abuse of power by the current ANC government," said Zille.

Prominent human rights lawyer George Bizos who represented former president Nelson Mandela, during his treason trial described Suzman as an icon who relentlessly fought for equal rights during a difficult period.

"She knew that she may not solve all the country's problems but she never gave up," said Bizos.

The diminutive Suzman was born in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, on November 7, 1917 to Samuel and Frieda Gavronsky, both Jewish immigrants from Lithuania.

She used her debating time to rail against forced removals, racial inequalities, the erosion of the rule of law, capital punishment, torture, censorship, police abuses and other trademarks of white minority rule.

She was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and awarded the United Nations Award for Human Rights in 1978.

A public memorial service in her honour will be held in few weeks time, her family said.

- AFP