Walter Sisulu

**Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu** (18 May 1912 – 5 May 2003) na he be a South African anti-apartheid activist den member of de African National Congress (ANC). Between terms as ANC Secretary-General (1949–1954) den ANC Deputy President (1991–1994), na dem Accuse am No.2 insyd de Rivonia Trial wey na dem incarcerate am on Robben Island wer na he serve more dan 25 years' imprisonment for ein anti-Apartheid revolutionary activism. Na he get a close partnership plus Oliver Tambo den Nelson Mandela, plus whom na he play a key role in organising de 1952 Defiance Campaign den de establishment of de ANC Youth League den Umkhonto we Sizwe. Na he sanso be on de Central Committee of de South African Communist Party.

## Family
Na dem born Walter Sisulu insyd 1912 insyd de town of Ngcobo insyd de Union of South Africa, part of wat now be de Eastern Cape province (then de Transkei). As na e no be unusual for ein generation insyd South Africa, na he be uncertain of ein birthday, buh na he celebrate am on 18 May. Na ein mommie, Alice Mase Sisulu, be a Xhosa domestic worker wey na ein poppie, Albert Victor Dickinson, be a white civil servant den magistrate. Na Dickinson no play a part insyd ein son ein upbringing: na Sisulu reportedly meet am once per, insyd de 1940s, before na he die insyd de 1970s. Na ein mommie ein family raise Sisulu den ein sisto, Rosabella, wey na dem descend from de Thembu clan. Na he be close plus ein uncle, Dyantyi Hlakula, wey na he be passionate about Xhosa culture wey na he oversee ein initiation. Although na he technically be of mixed race, Sisulu identify strongly as black den as Xhosa.

Insyd ein mid-teens, Sisulu lef school – an Anglican mission school – make he find work. Insyd Johannesburg, na he work a range of jobs, wey dey include as a bank teller, gold miner, domestic worker, den baker. Na dem fire am from de bakery for trying to organise ein co-workers.

Na he found Sitha Investments insyd 1939. E dey situate at Barclay Arcade between West Street den Commissioner Street insyd de business district of Johannesburg. Na ein objective be make help black den Indian people buy houses. During ein operations, na Sitha be de black-owned real estate agency per insyd South Africa.

## Awards den legacy
Insyd 1992, na dem award Sisulu Isitwalandwe Medal, de highest honour wey be granted by de ANC, for ein contribution to de liberation struggle insyd South Africa. Na de government of India award am de Padma Vibhushan insyd 1998.

Insyd 2004, na dem rank Sisulu 33rd on SABC 3 ein list of Great South Africans. Dem name de Walter Sisulu National Botanic Garden, Walter Sisulu University den Walter Sisulu Local Municipality after am.

## References


## Read further

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## External links

* Video footage of Sisulu's release (1989)
* Mandela's tribute to Sisulu (2003)
* The African Activist Archive Project website includes the audio of a January 1987 Interview with Walter Sisulu conducted in 1954 by George M. Houser of the American Committee on Africa. The website also includes photographs of Sisulu and demonstrations in the U.S. in support of the defendants in the Rivonia Trial.
*Interview with Walter Sisulu by Tor Sellström within the project Nordic Documentation on the Liberation Struggle in Southern Africa – dated 15 September 1995