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24 March 2009

The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Ntombazana Botha will speak at the launch of the Dulcie September legacy project in Arcueil, France on 27 March 2009. During the launch, 23 students will receive the Dulcie September Award for Humanity. Deputy Minister Botha and the Mayor of Arcueil, Mr Daniel Breuiller will unveil a plaque and lay wreaths at the Dulcie September Memorial.

Ms Dulcie Evon September was born on 20 August 1935 in Gleemoor, Athlone in Cape Town. It was in the context of the struggles around education that she received her baptism in politics. She joined the Cape Peninsula Students’ Union, an affiliate of the Unity Movement of South Africa, in 1957. She later left the unity movement to join a group of young militants known as the National Liberation Front, or the Yu Chui Chan Club. She also qualified as a teacher at Battswood Teacher Training College.

It was while engaged in the activities of the National Liberation Front that she was arrested and detained without trial in October 1963. Early in 1964, together with nine others, September was charged with conspiring to commit acts of sabotage, and incite acts of politically motivated violence. In April 1964, she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

When she was released from prison in 1969, the government curtailed her activities by banning her for 5 years. She left South Africa in 1974 for Britain in order to further her studies. She joined the African National Congress (ANC) in exile and threw herself into the work of the movement. She won recognition and was in 1984 appointed Chief Representative of the ANC in France, Switzerland and Luxemburg. Before the ANC sent her to Paris, she had worked at the ANC headquarters in Lusaka and for the anti-apartheid movement in London.

On 29 March 1988 she was murdered in cold blood as she was about to enter the ANC office in Paris. Before her assassination, September had been investigating trafficking of weapons between France and South Africa. Prior to her murder in Paris, she had received death threats for eight months.

The impact of her contribution towards the liberation in South Africa and the violent nature of her death resulted in the naming of a junior secondary school after her in the town of Arcueil. The town also hosts various events every year to commemorate her contribution to the South African struggle and the ultimate sacrifice she paid to uphold the values of non-racialism and a more inclusive democratic world.

In order to acknowledge her contribution towards the liberation of the people of South Africa and the enormous personal sacrifices she made during her life, national government has decided to pay a proper and fitting tribute to this heroine. The components of this legacy project include a memorial lecture and an exhibition.

“The Dulcie September Legacy project is a reminder to all South Africans that women played a pivotal role in the struggle for freedom and that they are equal partners in the socio-economic development of our society,” Deputy Minister Botha said.

Enquiries:
Eric Mudzanani
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Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
24 March 2009