By Farouk Araie
The death of fearless Struggle icon Cheryl Roberts has gripped the nation and the sporting world with a deep embrace of shock. As we grieve, we thank Almighty God for the memorable years that she gave to our nation as a purveyor of justice and humility.
Her death gives us cause to ponder how she touched our lives. Her commitment to social justice and reconciliation, to human rights and the dignity of the human person, will be gratefully remembered.
The nation pays tribute to her immense and unique contribution to peace and justice and this emphasis on the dignity and worth of every individual from conception to the grave. Her courage in denouncing racism over the past 60 years will be remembered by many generations to come. We are devastated to lose our national symbol of truth, love and hope.
Few individuals have had a greater impact, not just religiously but socially and morally, and on the sporting world, as Cheryl Roberts. A formidable foe of racism and global aggression against weaker nations. She is one of the most celebrated and inspiring leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries.
She fearlessly condemned racism and totalitarianism as she fought for peace and justice with equal vigour. Cheryl Roberts, during the span of her extraordinary lifetime, fought hard for a just world.
Beloved Cheryl was a rare breed, a passionate human rights defender who took on the mighty, the corrupt, the powerful, and the defiant in her crusade for peace and equality.
Her message to the whole of humanity was that our wounded world was yearning for peace.
She was absolutely fair to both victims and to the architects who participated in crimes against humanity. She exposed the horror of racism and oppression in graphic 3D.
The brilliant and sparkling light that illuminated our country and our global landscape amidst darkness and chaos has gone out. History will remember Cheryl Roberts as the most elevating and inspiring woman of our age.
It is this quality of all-embracing warmth which stands out most prominent in her character. Our only consolation in this hour of immense grief is that her life of truth, tolerance, and her vast quest for justice and total equality towards fellow human beings inspire our troubled and torn rainbow nation to save itself by following her noble examples.
Farewell to friend and liberator. Hamba Kahle, Cheryl Roberts, beloved daughter of Africa. Good Bye, our liberator from tyranny. The Apostle of Peace and the light of Africa. You will always remain a perennial symbol of individual excellence
* Farouk Araie, Benoni.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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