The Haven Hills home of Kazeka Somhlahlo, the half- sister of well-known Phyllis Ntantala, was filled with prayer and singing on Saturday morning.
At the same time, the remains of Ntantala, 96, the world-renowned women’s rights, and anti-apartheid activist, were being laid to rest in Madison, Wisconsin, in the United States.
Ntantala, who died at a hospice in Michigan on July 17, was born in Dutywa, studied at Lovedale College and Fort Hare, and played a significant role in the liberation struggle as a member of the Non-European Unity Movement.
In East London, more than 50 people gathered to say their final goodbyes to Ntantala and to comfort Somhlahlo.
The gathering was organised by Somhlahlo’s friends in the Holy Cross Church.
The many tributes to Ntantala described her as a “bright sunshine whose rays reached far and wide”, “humble”, “incorruptible”, “quiet”, “intelligent”, “a strong character”, “a brave feminist”, and “an advocate of truth”.
Somhlahlo, chairwoman of the local prison parole board, is the last-born of 14 children of George Ntantala.
She said Ntantala was one of five children born to her father’s first wife, who passed away when Ntantala was only three.
Her father then remarried and had nine children with Somhlahlo’s mother. “We grew up together as one family under my mom’s care, unaware that we had different biological mothers,” she said.
Somhlahlo said Ntantala died of old age and was buried in America, where the rest of her immediate family had also been laid to rest.
Ntantala’s late husband, Xhosa author AC Jordan of Ingqumbo Yeminyanya (The Wrath of the Ancestors) fame, their daughter, Nandi, and son, Lindikhaya, are also buried there.
Somhlahlo said her sister was a woman who stood up for the truth no matter the cost.
“The truth was the truth; she never faltered. She loved the Xhosa language and could never understand why African people spoke to each other in English,” Somhlahlo recalled.
She remembered how unrelenting her sister was about the proper use of language.
“If you wrote her a letter, she would return it to you with red pen marks like a teacher, correcting spelling and grammar in both Xhosa and English. She would always shout at me because my name doesn’t have an ‘H’ and when correcting the spelling and pronunciation she would say ‘tata’ , ‘thatha’ , to drive her point home.
“She was that kind of person,” she laughed.
“She made us feel special, like there was something worth taking pride in because we were born to George Ntantala, as if we were set apart.
“We took pride in that and beat our chests about it.
“The community would recognise us as the Ntantalas because of her,” said Somhlahlo.
Somhlahlo and her twin sister Kholisa were also celebrating their 67th birthdays on Saturday, although Kholisa was in Dutywa.
Somhlahlo said her birthday cake had a hole in the middle, which was symbolic.
“There’s a void inside due to the death of my beloved sister and especially because I couldn’t go and lay her to rest,” she said.
A family ceremony (ukhuzo) will be held in Nqabarha, Dutywa, at their home on August 13. There will be a larger memorial service on August 27 to be held at a venue yet to be confirmed, in East London.
Ntantala is also survived by her son, former Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan, her brother Lindinkosi Ntantala, her sister Lindiwe September, and many grandchildren. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
EL family mourn world-famous activist
At the same time, the remains of Ntantala, 96, the world-renowned women’s rights, and anti-apartheid activist, were being laid to rest in Madison, Wisconsin, in the United States.
Ntantala, who died at a hospice in Michigan on July 17, was born in Dutywa, studied at Lovedale College and Fort Hare, and played a significant role in the liberation struggle as a member of the Non-European Unity Movement.
In East London, more than 50 people gathered to say their final goodbyes to Ntantala and to comfort Somhlahlo.
The gathering was organised by Somhlahlo’s friends in the Holy Cross Church.
The many tributes to Ntantala described her as a “bright sunshine whose rays reached far and wide”, “humble”, “incorruptible”, “quiet”, “intelligent”, “a strong character”, “a brave feminist”, and “an advocate of truth”.
Somhlahlo, chairwoman of the local prison parole board, is the last-born of 14 children of George Ntantala.
She said Ntantala was one of five children born to her father’s first wife, who passed away when Ntantala was only three.
Her father then remarried and had nine children with Somhlahlo’s mother. “We grew up together as one family under my mom’s care, unaware that we had different biological mothers,” she said.
Somhlahlo said Ntantala died of old age and was buried in America, where the rest of her immediate family had also been laid to rest.
Ntantala’s late husband, Xhosa author AC Jordan of Ingqumbo Yeminyanya (The Wrath of the Ancestors) fame, their daughter, Nandi, and son, Lindikhaya, are also buried there.
Somhlahlo said her sister was a woman who stood up for the truth no matter the cost.
“The truth was the truth; she never faltered. She loved the Xhosa language and could never understand why African people spoke to each other in English,” Somhlahlo recalled.
She remembered how unrelenting her sister was about the proper use of language.
“If you wrote her a letter, she would return it to you with red pen marks like a teacher, correcting spelling and grammar in both Xhosa and English. She would always shout at me because my name doesn’t have an ‘H’ and when correcting the spelling and pronunciation she would say ‘tata’ , ‘thatha’ , to drive her point home.
“She was that kind of person,” she laughed.
“She made us feel special, like there was something worth taking pride in because we were born to George Ntantala, as if we were set apart.
“We took pride in that and beat our chests about it.
“The community would recognise us as the Ntantalas because of her,” said Somhlahlo.
Somhlahlo and her twin sister Kholisa were also celebrating their 67th birthdays on Saturday, although Kholisa was in Dutywa.
Somhlahlo said her birthday cake had a hole in the middle, which was symbolic.
“There’s a void inside due to the death of my beloved sister and especially because I couldn’t go and lay her to rest,” she said.
A family ceremony (ukhuzo) will be held in Nqabarha, Dutywa, at their home on August 13. There will be a larger memorial service on August 27 to be held at a venue yet to be confirmed, in East London.
Ntantala is also survived by her son, former Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan, her brother Lindinkosi Ntantala, her sister Lindiwe September, and many grandchildren. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos