Mittah Seperepere
Mittah Seperepere or Goeieman as she was affectionately known (1929 - 2010) was, in 2014, a posthumous recipient of the Order of Luthuli (Bronze) – an award for South Africans having made exceptional contributions to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice, peace and conflict resolution.
Born at Riverton near Kimberley, on 28 December 1929, Mittah Seperepere was inspired by the ANC Youth League’s 1949 Programme of Action, becoming involved in mobilizing women in anti-pass law campaigns. She served the ANC in Kimberley under Dr Arthur Letele, being elected Secretary of the Galeshewe branch, and in the Women’s League under leadership of Mary Letele and Monica Matshediso. Joining the Youth League, she became active in the underground structures of the movement. These involvements led to her imprisonment in 1965.
She and her husband, Maruping Seperepere, left the country for Botswana upon her release the following year. She spent most of her adult life in exile, in Tanzania, Zambia, and East Germany, representing various ANC and women’s organisational interests. As a welfare officer for the ANC in Tanzania she started a primary school at the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (Somafco), established by the ANC on land donated by the Tanzanian government in 1977. Seperepere served alongside comrades Gauta George Mokgoro, Johannes Molehe Mampe, Andrew Mapitse, Joe Morolong, John Mahoko Itholeng, Martin Oliphant and others. In October 1981, Seperepere and Dulcie September were elected to represent the ANC Women’s Section at the World Congress of Women for Equality, National Independence and Peace that was held in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now in the Czech Republic).
Upon the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, Mma Mittah returned to South Africa, fully participating in political structures, and working with the community of Majeng and surrounding areas west of Warrenton. She served as a Member of the National Assembly (1994-1999), thereafter devoting her efforts to community development and tourism projects in Kimberley. She died after a long illness on 30 October 2010. In 2012 the Kimberley International Convention Centre was named in her honour.
(Based in part on the profile published by the Presidency: Order of Luthuli - Bronze).
Click here for a map to the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre
Born at Riverton near Kimberley, on 28 December 1929, Mittah Seperepere was inspired by the ANC Youth League’s 1949 Programme of Action, becoming involved in mobilizing women in anti-pass law campaigns. She served the ANC in Kimberley under Dr Arthur Letele, being elected Secretary of the Galeshewe branch, and in the Women’s League under leadership of Mary Letele and Monica Matshediso. Joining the Youth League, she became active in the underground structures of the movement. These involvements led to her imprisonment in 1965.
She and her husband, Maruping Seperepere, left the country for Botswana upon her release the following year. She spent most of her adult life in exile, in Tanzania, Zambia, and East Germany, representing various ANC and women’s organisational interests. As a welfare officer for the ANC in Tanzania she started a primary school at the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (Somafco), established by the ANC on land donated by the Tanzanian government in 1977. Seperepere served alongside comrades Gauta George Mokgoro, Johannes Molehe Mampe, Andrew Mapitse, Joe Morolong, John Mahoko Itholeng, Martin Oliphant and others. In October 1981, Seperepere and Dulcie September were elected to represent the ANC Women’s Section at the World Congress of Women for Equality, National Independence and Peace that was held in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now in the Czech Republic).
Upon the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, Mma Mittah returned to South Africa, fully participating in political structures, and working with the community of Majeng and surrounding areas west of Warrenton. She served as a Member of the National Assembly (1994-1999), thereafter devoting her efforts to community development and tourism projects in Kimberley. She died after a long illness on 30 October 2010. In 2012 the Kimberley International Convention Centre was named in her honour.
(Based in part on the profile published by the Presidency: Order of Luthuli - Bronze).
Click here for a map to the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre