Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma on Saturday expressed deep sadness and conveyed his heartfelt condolences on the death of Beata Lipman who famously wrote down the original Freedom Charter. Lipman died in Johannensburg at the age of 88 on Thursday.
"It is always saddening to lose such a principled and esteemed freedom fighter and struggle veteran like Ms Lipman who was at the forefront during the 1955 congress of the people which drafted the Freedom Charter, the foundation for our democratic Constitution. We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to her family and relatives. May her soul rest in peace,” Zuma said.
Lipman, working alongside her late anti-apartheid activist husband Alan Lipman, would forever be remembered for her sterling work in 1955 where she collated information during the congress and drafted the original Freedom Charter in her own handwriting, he said.
In a separate statement, the African National Congress Women's League also extended condolences on Lipman's death.
ANCWL president Bathabile Dlamini said Lipman had been an "astounding political activist", a feminist, and a journalist who used her journalism skills for the emancipation of women.
"She played a significant role in the struggle for freedom and was one of the women who marched to the Union Buildings on August 9, 60 years ago."
On behalf of the ANCWL, Dlamini extended heartfelt condolences to Lipman's family, friends, and loved ones.
"Cde Beata was a galant fighter for the rights of women who was way ahead of her time. Her story is a reflection that women have always played a significant role in the struggle against apartheid. When we speak of the Freedom Charter how many times do we hear that it was hand-written by a woman?
"This is the reason the women's league took the decision that this year we will continue narrating the role women played in changing the face of our politics. Women like cde Beata continue to show us that women have always been capable and are still capable to play a meaningful role in changing the lives of the people."