Sheena Duncan, anti-apartheid campaigner - obituary

[Steve Hayes]

Obituary: Black Sash’s Sheena Duncan
05 May 2010
Sapa

CAPE TOWN — Black Sash stalwart and anti-apartheid activist Sheena Duncan’s
contribution led to the realisation of the dream of a democratic and
non-racial South Africa, the African National Congress said yesterday.

“Principled and committed in the fight against apartheid oppression, Sheena
Duncan will be sorely missed for her contribution,” the party said in a
statement.

Duncan (78) died in her Johannesburg home in the early hours of yesterday
morning, after a lengthy battle with an illness.

The Black Sash said yesterday that Duncan’s mother, June Sinclair, was a
founding member of the Sash, and Duncan herself joined the organisation in
1963.

She served two terms as national president before becoming the founding chair
of the Black Sash Trust and later the organisation’s first patron.

She was a leading member of the SA Council of Churches, becoming its honorary
life president and chair, and patron of Gun Free South Africa.

In 2006, she was made grand counsellor of the Order of the Baobab for what the
citation called “her excellent contribution to the struggle for a non-sexist,
just and democratic South Africa”.

The national director of Sash, Marcella Naidoo, said Duncan was a leading
expert in understanding the impact of the apartheid-era pass laws and exposing
their absurdity.

“Equally important was her commitment to finding peaceful ways of opposing
oppression and injustice,” she said.

“Indeed, this will be her legacy: an enduring commitment to work for justice,
an unshaken faith in peaceful ways of doing so, a warm and courageous heart
for supporting those who suffer.”

http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=40057

[Steve Hayes]

Obituary: Sheena Duncan: Fearless Black Sash president
May 9, 2010 12:00 AM | By Chris Barron
Sheena Duncan, who has died in Johannesburg at the age of 77, was national
president of the Black Sash during some of the harshest years of apartheid.
Current Font Size:
ACTIVIST: Sheena Duncan, a former president of the Black Sash, in March 1980
ACTIVIST: Sheena Duncan, a former president of the Black Sash, in March 1980

The Black Sash was an extraordinary organisation made up of mostly wealthy
middle-class white ladies who staffed advice offices for black victims of
apartheid laws and stood at the side of busy roads wearing black sashes and
holding placards highlighting the injustices perpetrated on black South
Africans.

For their pains they were hooted at and jeered by other wealthy middle-class
whites, and harassed and bullied by the security police.

The Black Sash was part of Duncan's life from 1955 when her mother, Jean
Sinclair, became one of the founding members.

Duncan herself joined in 1963 and 12 years later, at the age of 43, became
national president when her mother, the incumbent, retired.

Most of her time was spent running the Johannesburg advice office to help
black people navigate the almost impossibly complicated pass laws and other
regulations that the apartheid government heaped on them.

She regularly put in 12-hour days, patiently and meticulously recording one
desperate story after another, helping with practical advice where she could
and seeking outside assistance when necessary. Like a number of Black Sash
women, she became such an expert that it seldom was. Even lawyers bowed to her
superior knowledge of apartheid laws.

When the pass laws were repealed in 1986, the Sash concerned itself with
social welfare issues and lobbying for better social grants.

In the '90s, when official apartheid was all but over, Duncan resisted
arguments that the Sash no longer had a reason for existence.

She told corporate donors who believed there was no further need for human
rights organisations that she thought the advocacy work of the Sash had become
more important than ever.

Born in Johannesburg on December 7 1932, Duncan was the eldest of five
children.

She worked as a domestic science teacher and briefly for the Johannesburg city
council before joining the Sash.

A natural leader and excellent speaker, she was equally at home addressing
large public meetings as she was dealing with committee-sized groups.

She was a feisty person with a sharp tongue, and took no nonsense from
authority.

She was a practical person who summed up situations quickly and acted
decisively.

When the detainees' Parents Support Committee was banned in 1985, she promptly
- and to the great annoyance of the government - made Black Sash offices
available to them.

Along with the toughness, she had a ready sense of humour and hearty laugh
with which she managed to defuse many tense situations.

A devout Christian, Duncan worked with the Anglican church to end racism in
the church and was closely involved with the justice and reconciliation work
of the SA Council of Churches.

She received a number of awards and honorary doctorates for her human rights
work, and in 2005 was made Grand Counsellor of the Baobab (in silver) for her
"excellent contribution" to the struggle for democracy.

When she retired from the Black Sash 10 years ago, she organised the Gun Free
South Africa campaign. She believed passionately - and naively, according to
some - that reducing the number of guns would curb crime.

Duncan, whose architect husband Neil predeceased her, is survived by two
daughters.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article439565.ece/Obituary--Sheena-Duncan--Fearless-Black-Sash-president

[bigdude]

Post by Steve Hayes
She received a number of awards and honorary doctorates for her human rights
work, and in 2005 was made Grand Counsellor of the Baobab (in silver) for her
"excellent contribution" to the struggle for democracy.

They know how to honour the traitor whites..

Post by Steve Hayes
When she retired from the Black Sash 10 years ago, she organised the Gun Free
South Africa campaign. She believed passionately - and naively, according to
some - that reducing the number of guns would curb crime.

sez everything about this dom poppie..

Post by Steve Hayes
Duncan, whose architect husband Neil predeceased her, is survived by two
daughters.

Who will, (unless they've fled overseas already) quite possibly be raped
by the black savages she helped to 'free' from apartheid..

Yep, they're all going fast now, the old white liberals. Most drink
themselves to death when they finally comprehend the chaos they've
caused to their once beautiful country.

[Etienne Marais]

Post by bigdude

Post by Steve Hayes
She received a number of awards and honorary doctorates for her human rights
work, and in 2005 was made Grand Counsellor of the Baobab (in silver) for her
"excellent contribution" to the struggle for democracy.

They know how to honour the traitor whites..

Post by Steve Hayes
When she retired from the Black Sash 10 years ago, she organised the Gun Free
South Africa campaign. She believed passionately - and naively, according to
some - that reducing the number of guns would curb crime.

sez everything about this dom poppie..

Post by Steve Hayes
Duncan, whose architect husband Neil predeceased her, is survived by two
daughters.

Who will, (unless they've fled overseas already) quite possibly be raped
by the black savages she helped to 'free' from apartheid..
Yep, they're all going fast now, the old white liberals. Most drink
themselves to death when they finally comprehend the chaos they've
caused to their once beautiful country.
--
bigD

Well said bigD

[bigdude]

Post by Etienne Marais

Post by bigdude

Post by Steve Hayes
She received a number of awards and honorary doctorates for her human
rights work, and in 2005 was made Grand Counsellor of the Baobab (in
silver) for her "excellent contribution" to the struggle for
democracy.

They know how to honour the traitor whites..

Post by Steve Hayes
When she retired from the Black Sash 10 years ago, she organised the
Gun Free South Africa campaign. She believed passionately - and
naively, according to some - that reducing the number of guns would
curb crime.

sez everything about this dom poppie..

Post by Steve Hayes
Duncan, whose architect husband Neil predeceased her, is survived by
two daughters.

Who will, (unless they've fled overseas already) quite possibly be raped
by the black savages she helped to 'free' from apartheid..
Yep, they're all going fast now, the old white liberals. Most drink
themselves to death when they finally comprehend the chaos they've
caused to their once beautiful country.

Well said bigD

I see this post was started by Steve Hayes, himself an aging liberal
with struggle credentials. Go easy on the communion wine, old chap..
:-)

[Etienne Marais]

Post by Steve Hayes
Most of her time was spent running the Johannesburg advice office to help
black people navigate the almost impossibly complicated pass laws and other
regulations that the apartheid government heaped on them.

The Pass Laws were simply extended from British Rule
in South Africa, the true originators of Apartheid.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid : Precursors of apartheid )