NEHAWU is extremely saddened by the passing away of the ANC struggle stalwart and Women's Rights activist Amina Cachalia who passed away yesterday at Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital at the age of 82.

We send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and comrades. Mama Cachalia was an activist and a humanitarian who spent her entire life fighting for the full emancipation of women from all forms of oppression like patriarchy, prostitution and poverty. She was amongst the 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to present a petition in opposition to the pass laws.

The nation and the tripartite alliance in particular have lost a heroine and a fighter that played a huge role to break the evil apartheid machinery. Her generation planted the roots of freedom and equality that needs to be nurtured by the present generation.

Our union dips its banners in honour of Amina Cachalia and calls on all South Africans to continue her work of fighting for the emancipation of women. We all need to work hard in order to improve the lives of our women workers in the factories, farms and those doing domestic work.

We salute this struggle icon and may her soul rest in peace.

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat Office