Many Mdantsane residents may not know that they live alongside a living heroine, a woman who with thousands of others, set the wheels in motion for SA to become the democratic country which we live in today.
So significant were the brave efforts of Bella Joyi and many other women that a public holiday is dedicated to honour their legacy.
Joyi was a fearless 22-year-old when, in 1956, she joined thousands of other women, including Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Bertha Gxowa, in a march on the Union Buildings to fight for women’s rights and to protest against the pass laws.
On Tuesday morning, the soft-spoken 88-year-old was elated when officials from the social development department, led by MEC Bukiwe Fanta, paid her a visit.
“My heart is jumping with joy, because I no longer have the energy of travelling around the province or country due to age.
“I used to travel with Fanta before she became an MEC.”
“I took a train with 20,000 other women to the Union Buildings, and we burnt our passes right in front of the establishment.
“We were not scared of anyone, including the police, as we knew what our intention was.
“Another thing that pushed me was, I had to drop out of school due to the financial situation back home.
“I had to become domestic worker at a young age, where I was ill-treated by my employer,” Joyi said.
These days, the struggle heroine keeps herself active by going to church on Sundays.
She used to have a vegetable garden but had to stop planting due to old age.
Fanta said: “October is a month dedicated for the senior citizens, we saw it fitting as the department to look for the elderly who can still be celebrated.”
Officials were supposed to celebrate Joyi’s 88th birthday in June, but due to unforeseen challenges, that did not transpire.
“It was our goal to celebrate her during Women’s Month, as she was one of thousands of South African women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest against pass laws, urging women to stand together and fight for their rights and country.
“We are grateful that we are able to celebrate her during this month that is raising awareness of elderly people.”
Fanta said the department was showing its appreciation of Joyi because she was one of the women who fought for freedom under apartheid.
She said: “We are the people that are in certain positions today, it is because of their courageous characteristics that fought for our freedom.”
The department brought groceries, fruit baskets, blankets and other essentials for Joyi.
The MEC said this was not the first time officials had paid homage to Joyi, as they have helped her fix her home when it was falling apart.
“We are planning on opening a multipurpose centre that will be named after her, which will be based near Ncerha, to honour her.
“We are hoping to open it this month.”
Fanta spoke about how the department was planning to tackle the problems faced by the elderly.
“It is our mandate that we ensure the safety and wellbeing of our senior citizens.
“We recently visited elderly women in Ginsberg, Tsomo and Willowvale to celebrate women who have reached milestones, as some were celebrating their centenary birthdays,” she said.
“Our main problem is that elderly citizens, especially, are targets of gender-based violence. They are being killed and raped.
“We are grateful that her children are looking after Joyi, as some women lost their lives by being killed by their own children and grandchildren.”
Fanta pleaded with communities to take care of elderly people.
DispatchLIVE
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