The Daily Vox The liberation struggle is saturated with images of men who fought against the apartheid state for our political freedom, to the exclusion of women. Besides the late – and great – Mam’ Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, here are five other women that fought against patriarchy and racism to give us our political freedom. SHAAZIA EBRAHIM and FATIMA MOOSA commemorate these brave women this Freedom Day. Albertina Sisulu Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu was a nurse by profession. Through her political activism, she became one of the most important leaders of the anti-apartheid resistance. Mam’ Albertina is often referred to as the “Mother of the Nation”. Through Walter Sisulu, Mam’ Albertina attended the first conference of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League where she was the only woman present. She was one of the organisers of the historic anti-pass Women’s March in 1956. During the historic march, Sisulu and other activists sang the famous song ‘Wathint` abafazi, Strijdom! Wathint` imbokodo uzo kufa!’ (Now you have touched the women, Strijdom! You have struck a rock, You will be crushed!).