Meet Comrade Thembeka Cynthia Maduna “My parents were ANC members”, comrade Thembeka explains, “As children, we would watch elders in our street, holding Mzabalazo meetings and talk of the forced removals, because of the Group Areas Act of 1950, which moved people from places near town such as Sophiatown to Soweto”.

She learnt about unjust laws

She was taught about evil laws, such as the “Bantu Education Act of 1950, which brought inferior education to black people. The Race Classification Act separated black people as Indians, Coloureds and Africans.

The Immortality Act prohibited marriages between black and white people and the Influx Control law forced African people to carry dompasses wherever they went.” “Our elders were sad and would tell us what the Apartheid government was up to”.

She was inspired in the early 80’s by SANCO, “When I was the street committee member to launch the non-payment of rent and request a flat rate for electricity”. She became a shop steward at her work and initiated her union members to join COSATU.

Her generational aim was to contribute in bringing down the Apartheid regime and to fight for better education. “It was to free Mandela and all political prisoners and to let the exiles return.”

She was there when the KZN women’s League was founded

Asked what lessons she learnt as a young activist that are still useful, she answers, “Discipline, respect and treating others with dignity”. She joined the Women’s Federation of Transvaal and was inspired by Mrs Mlangeni, Sister Barnard and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Comrade Thembeka was present when the KZN Women’s League was founded.

In the mass democratic movement, she is involved in the launching of veterans’ branches, monitoring their performance and following the ANC policies. This is done by checking their biographies and preparing them for conferences. “I emphasize the theme of monitoring to our veterans.”