Paying tribute to fierce, prophetic Helen Suzman
Francis Antonie’s sermon at Beit Emanuel shul to celebrate the centenary of South African icon Helen Suzman’s birth
As many of you know, we are in the midst of celebrating the centenary of Helen Suzman’s birth, and these celebrations culminate with the memorial lecture on Tuesday November 7, when we launch the commemorative issue of the stamps in her honour, followed by former president Kgalema Motlanthe’s lecture, "power and privilege in politically uncertain times". The celebrations began on Friday with a joint initiative of the Beit Emanuel shul, the Holy Family Convent next door and the Helen Suzman Foundation – three institutions connected to Suzman at various stages of her life. We began the morning with a plenary session, where the principle guest speaker was Mosiuoa Lekota, one of the original four Delmas treason trialists. Suzman was a constant presence at the trial and an important link between the accused and the outside world. Lekota’s speech was a remarkable testimony to her role as a witness to these events and to the support, moral and otherwise, she provided. But this support was ...
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