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Cradock Four’s Wives: From left, Sparrow Mkhonto’s wife, Sindiswa, Fort Calata’s wife, Nomonde, and Matthew Goniwe’s wife, Nyameka, in 1985.
PHOTO: Gallo Images / Media24 Archives
- Nyameka Goniwe has been described as a selfless leader who had unwavering courage.
- Inxuba Yethemba Township spokesman, widow of anti-apartheid activist Matthew Goniwe, died Saturday after a brief illness.
- He has held positions in the municipalities of Inxuba Yethemba and Chris Hani District since 2011.
Chris Hani District Municipality Mayor Wongama Gela described the death of Nyameka Goniwe, spokesperson for Inxuba Yethemba Municipality and widow of anti-apartheid activist Matthew Goniwe, as “one of the most painful moments in our district.”
“We are truly grateful to have been privileged to be a part of his life and words are not adequate to explain the loss of this gentle soul,” Gela said in a statement Sunday.
“We have lost a colleague, a friend, a great leader and a patriot whose life was dedicated [to] the improvement of others “.
The Inxuba Yethemba municipality announced Saturday night that Goniwe had shown signs of illness, shortness of breath and headaches in recent days.
He underwent a test for Covid-19 and died while awaiting his results in isolation.
‘His courage was silent, but unshakable’
Goniwe joined the ranks of the local government in 2011, as the executive mayor of the local municipality of Inxuba Yethemba. In 2016, she became a full-time councilor in the Chris Hani District Township, where she served on the Municipal Public Accounts Committee and later, as a member of the mayoral committee.
She was later reassigned to the Inxuba Yethemba municipality as council president.
“Her first concern was never for herself, but always for her community, how she could make our district and her locality a better place for each family that lives there and for each individual that passes by,” Gela said.
Social worker and community leader Mam ‘Nyameka Goniwe passed away yesterday. It is sad that she has not yet seen justice for the murder of her husband, Matthew (one of the Cradock 4) because the NPA decided to delay the prosecution of those responsible for this heinous crime. pic.twitter.com/BXHPmbtHPw
– Zikhona Valela (valavoosh) August 30, 2020
She married Matthew Goniwe in 1975. Early in their marriage, he was imprisoned and she supported him, studied, and raised a baby on her own.
Ten years after getting married, Matthew disappeared after leaving Cradock with his friends, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkhonto. They were known as the Cradock Four. Weeks later, his body was found stabbed to death and badly burned.
Gela added:
Cllr Goniwe was the kind of person you would like to be your neighbor, your best friend, and your speaker … Her courage was silent, but unshakable. She drew her strength from the unbreakable bonds of family, friendship, and community that she served her entire life.
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