For Lizzie Abrahams on her eightieth birthday

Fourteen years old and a seasonal worker

From early morning to late at night

Canning fruit or packing trays

This was her life, her childhood days

For Lizzie Josephs her mission was sealed

She would not stop 'til her people were healed

Collecting subs at age twenty-one

She rested only when the job was done

Working with Comrade Ray and Becky Lan

On whom the authorities slapped a ban

But Lizzie battled on like a soldier possessed

Marching forward, ever giving her best

Commitment to struggle shook her family life

She had to juggle with passion, with drive

Many a times dance on the edge of a knife

And amidst all the fear, the strife

Keep the spirits high

Force the flag of resistance to fly

She wrote the script of her own “theatre play”

Dressed comrades in disguise on many a day

She hid Archie Sibeko in Johnny Mentoor's house

The name of this play was “cat and mouse”

The Special Branch was never amused

But they could not get Lizzie, the accused

When Rocky was banished to a farm near Vryburg

Lizzie said “No, I won't let Rocky Mafekeng go”

She put Rocky and baby onto a train

When the Special Branch came it was all in vain

for Rocky was gone and no one would tell

that she was off to Lesotho and not to hell

When Lizzie was banned it was a terrible blow

But she put up a brave face as a show

She could not let the Special Branch know

That her insecurity was starting to grow

However she stayed forever strong

She knew the struggle was going to be long

FAWU, SACTU, FEDSAW, each a name

To whom Lizzie can lay a claim

But she stays in the background

Her voice a soft but very clear sound

Warns against corruption and greed

Since there still are millions to clothe and to feed

We hail the woman

From the Paarl Vallei

A stone so precious and so rare

Not to be found anywhere

A jewel we treasure and revere

Nanna's so close to our hearts, so dear!

Diana Ferrus