Liz Abrahams honoured
2005-11-03
“THIS honour I must share with all my comrades who walked the hard road with me,” said former parliamentarian Liz (Nanna) Abrahams on Tuesday, when the Honorary Freedom of the Drakenstein Municipality was conferred on her.
She received the honour in appreciation of the eminent services rendered by her, particularly to the struggle against apartheid, the development of the labour movement amongst farm workers and as a member of the pre-interim council of Paarl.
Abrahams said success was dependent on team work.
“And outside there is still a lot of work. There are people without houses, without water, without jobs.
“We must reach out to them.”
Mayor Herman Bailey described her life story as one in which she fought courageously in support of the underdog.
“She now follows in the footsteps of previous recipients of this honour such as former president PW Botha, the late councillor Tommy Siebrits and former president Nelson Mandela.”
Liz Abrahams (nee Joseph) was born on 19 September 1925 in Paarl.
She was born to a family of four brothers and four sisters and she attended the Bethany school in Paarl.
Liz’s mother worked in a fruit factory, while her father made bricks. Her father was forced to leave his job as a result of ill health and went to work in the wood industry, however he had to leave that as well.
At the age of 14 Liz went to join her mother in the fruit factory, where she became actively involved in labour politics.
She started in the floor committee, but was soon in the branch executive and then went on to become the treasurer of the union.
In 1956 Liz was elected as the national general secretary of FAWU.
Liz has worked as the chairlady of the Paarl ANC Women’s League and also as the chairperson of the ANC branch in Paarl.
She became a member of parliament in 1994, a position she held until 2000.
In 2002 she received South Africa’s Order of the Counsellor of the Baobab in bronze from President Mbeki.
More
News
|
