Albertina Sisulu honoured with road name

South African President Jacob Zuma yesterday presided at the official renaming of the R24 road, which will now be known as the Albertina Sisulu Freeway, in Johannesburg. The R24 is a major East-West Regional Route in the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area that links OR Tambo International Airport with Rustenburg via Johannesburg, Krugersdorp and Magaliesburg. This route extension was initially launched in 2010 ahead of the Soccer World Cup by the Gauteng Department of Transport as part of the government's programme to continue honoring the heroes and heroines of that country's liberation struggle. On Saturday night, a dinner and a memorial lecture were held in Rosebank to honour the struggle icon. Government spokesperson Thebe Mohatle says this was to recognise the important role Sisulu played in the development of the country. "The president will first lay a wreath at the Croesus ceremony before attending the renaming ceremony and addressing a community meeting at Chief Mogale Hall, Kagiso Drive in Mogale City, Westrand," reported Sapa. Nontsikelelo Albertina Sisulu, born on October 21 1918 was a South African anti-apartheid activist and the widow of fellow activist Walter Sisulu (1912-2003). She was affectionately known as Ma Sisulu throughout her lifetime by the South African public. In 2004 she was voted 57th in the SABC3's Great South Africans. She died on June 2 2011 in her home in Linden, Johannesburg, aged 92. NAMPA SAPA