T he final chapter of one of South Africa’s greatest love stories was written last night when Nontsikelelo Albertina Sisulu, lifelong partner of ANC stalwart Walter Sisulu, passed away at her home in Linden, Joburg, aged 92.
One of her daughters, Beryl, a former ambassador to Norway, confirmed her passing.
The Star understands that Netcare 911 paramedics were called to the house just after 8pm. Netcare spokesman Jeff Wicks would not comment.
Sisulu played a pivotal role during the apartheid era and was the first woman held under the vicious 90-day detention order.
Although Albertina and Walter Sisulu had only about 15 years of normal married life, it is often noted how close they remained. The love that united them in the 1940s stayed strong through the years when Walter was imprisoned eight times, banned, placed under house arrest, tried twice for treason, then jailed for life in 1964.
The couple were loving in letters. One, sent by Albertina to Walter while he was on Robben Island, begins with the words: “Darling Walter… longing for you.”
Walter, a former ANC president, died in 2003 aged 90.
In her affectionate, meticulous study, Walter & Albertina Sisulu – In our Lifetime(David Philip Publishers, 2002), their daughter-in-law Elinor notes how Walter wrote his first letter to Albertina a few days after his arrival on the island, even though this meant he had exhausted his quota of letters for the first half of the year.
Albertina would reply, and sign off as “Your loving Tinie”.
Albertina never hid her feelings for Walter.
“We loved each other very much,” she once said. “We were like two chickens. One always walking behind the other.”
Once Walter had settled at last into retirement, Albertina said they shared a liking for live music and watching soccer, especially if “my grandchildren are in the teams”.
Elinor Sisulu tells of how, on their wedding anniversary in July 1979, Walter expressed his appreciation of Albertina as a wonderful mother who had kept the family close and committed to one another. He signed it off, as was common, with “a million kisses to my beloved Ntsiki”.
Just before 10pm last night, the Sisulu family gathered at the Second Street family home in Linden. Mlungisi addressed the media about the passing of his mother.
“For now this is all we have to say. She was well all along. She was 92, but in fair health.”
Sisulu was watching the news when she had a coughing fit. Her two grandchildren, Duma and Zweli, were in the house at the time.
“Mama was sitting on a chair as supper was being warmed up when she started coughing up blood,” said her second-born son Mlungisi.
Albertina had slumped to the side of her chair. The two grandchildren tried to clean her up and placed her on the floor.
When the paramedics arrived, they performed CPR on Sisulu.
“They tried to clear her throat so that she could breathe,” said Duma.
A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death, the family said.
They would release a further statement after they had sat with the family and “planned what to do next”.
Duma said it was too early to say when the funeral would be held, as they were still coming to terms with the death.
A family friend said: “She was the most wonderful woman I ever knew. We were in the Struggle together and I loved her dearly.”
“She was in good health,” said her son Zwelakhe.
“She was actually jolly this afternoon and, at 92, she was fairly healthy.”
The presidency was not available for comment last night. - Janet Smith, Candice Bailey, Thandi Skade and Sapa