ANC Women’s League visits family of late Florence Mophosho ahead of reburial
The repatriated remains of stalwart Florence Mophosho are to be reburied on August 30.
The ANC Women’s League visited the family of Florence Mophosho, a revered struggle stalwart and former organiser for the ANC, on Wednesday to prepare for her reburial. MEC Faith Mazibuko and Ward 108 councillor Deborah Francisco joined the visit to assess the family’s home in Alexandra ahead of the ceremony set for August 30.
Francisco confirmed Mophosho’s remains have been repatriated to South Africa for her reburial. “Her remains have been brought back. We are here to check what we can do to make the place better before the funeral,” she said.
Francisco described Mophosho as a formidable figure who stood against apartheid’s oppression, particularly the pass laws, at great personal cost. “She fought for our rights and against the pass laws. She took a stance against oppression when being a politician wasn’t fashionable.”
Francisco acknowledged that Mophosho’s contributions to South Africa’s democracy remain under-recognised. “Her history is known, but not by all. It’s our duty to keep teaching about our history and the role she played in South Africa. She fought for the whole country,” she said.
Francisco attributed part of this lack of awareness to Alexandra’s transient population, where new residents often refer to streets by their old names, like calling Joe Nhlanhla Street ‘John Brand,’ obscuring the legacy of struggle heroes.
Adv. Paulance Mophosho-Makgothi, Mophosho’s great-grandniece, echoed these sentiments. “People don’t know that much about her, especially young people. It was only last year, when they repatriated her remains, that people knew, but they didn’t fully understand who she is. She was not spoken about that much,” she said.
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Speaking about the visit, Mophosho-Makgothi expressed gratitude for the ANC Women’s League’s support. “We are extremely happy because the league came to help where the family needs it,” she said.
“It’s a big ceremony that necessitates the help we are getting. She was the leader [organiser and head of Women’s Section] of the ANC.”
She noted that Mophosho’s remains could not be repatriated until last year, with the ANC’s assistance. “We are grateful that she was working for the ANC and died fighting for freedom, for people to be liberated from apartheid. We are proud of her,” Mophosho-Makgothi said.
She also thanked the Alexandra community for their support and honouring Mophosho, pointing out that a street on 8th Avenue bears her name.
Francisco said they will return to Mophosho’s family again on August 21, to continue with the preparations.
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