Who Was Maniben Sita? Indian-Origin South African Activist Passed Away Due To COVID-19

Who Was Maniben Sita? The Indian-origin South African activist passed away on Wednesday due to complications related to COVID-19 at the age of 94.

Sita was hospitalised last week in Pretoria after she contracted the virus and got her positive test results. She worked against racism and protested against apartheid in South Africa.

Maniben had said, "Today's young Indian women have more opportunity to take action against evils in the society and should do so more vigorously."

Who was Maniben Sita?

• Sita was born in the year 1926 into a family which was politically active.
• Maniben Sita spoke about being highly influenced by her Indian father and the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
• With the teachings of Gandhi, Maniben actively fought against apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was a system prevailing in the Southern part of Africa which had policies that would distinguish the citizens on the basis of racism. It differentiated the white and non-citizens of the region.
• During her fight, she was jailed many times not far away from the celebration spaces like her father.
• Her father met Mahatma Gandhi when he had arrived in South Africa as a young lawyer to fight a case for a local Indian merchant.
• Maniben became a fierce political resister in her trademark sari.
• Her father Nana Sita also joined his Satyagraha struggle and continued the resistance long after Gandhi returned to India.
• She is a recipient of the Ahmed Kathrada Award of Excellence. This awarded was presented to her for the lifelong leadership she continued to have in the region. It was given by the Congress of Business and Economics.
• Sita also received the annual Valliamma Mudliar Awards to exceptional women leaders in February 2013.
• She also became the African National Congress municipal councillor. She served the post for one term and then refused to get re-elected.