Elizabeth van der Heyden and her sister Jenny. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Newspapers
Struggle heroine Elizabeth “Ma Betty” van der Heyden put up a fight until the end, but her condition continued to deteriorate.
This is according to her sister, Jenny van der Heyden, who was at her hospital bedside when Ma Betty died on Tuesday – days before celebrating her 89th birthday.
The “Cape Times” recently brought to the spotlight the challenges the ex-political prisoner had experienced in applying for a special grant as she struggled to meet financial obligations.
She was the only female political prisoner who served a full 10-year detention and the last surviving member of the Cape Peninsula Students Union.
The former teacher fought alongside comrades such as Neville Alexander, Frank van der Horst and Dulcie September.
Jenny said her sister’s death also highlighted even more failures in the system as they waited for an ambulance for more than seven hours.
“While it (her passing) was expected, the suddenness still takes you by surprise. We were excited to celebrate her birthday next month on September 8. After she was hospitalised, we informed her daughter who had to come back to South Africa sooner than expected. We really hoped she would be able to hold on until Tina (her daughter) arrived, but it was not to be, unfortunately.
“Until the end, she put up a good fight, but her condition deteriorated very quickly. We will miss her,” said Jenny.
Van der Heyden’s daughter arrived in South Africa on Wednesday. Ma Betty’s other two other siblings live overseas.
“I was alerted by her carer. We immediately called the ambulance but waited for more than seven hours. I followed up and their excuse was that they do not service the Elfindale area.
It is sad that she was failed until the very end,” said Jenny.
Fellow comrade Marcus Solomon said: “Her life is one to be celebrated and she did a lot in the fight for liberation during the Struggle. It is very sad that she had suffered so much in her latter years and especially over the last few weeks.
“Her last challenges highlighted how differently men and women were supported. She went through extreme suffering due to the lack of support.
It is also sad how the state had dealt with her need for assistance and how she was not afforded that before she passed. Her life deserves to be celebrated,” said Solomon.
Van der Heyden – raised in Gleemoor, Athlone – had taught English until the age of 77 at the South Peninsula High School, serving in a school governing body position.
She was the co-founder of the National Liberation Front and was arrested after the organisation was infiltrated by a police spy. She was arrested on July 18, 1963, with September, her sister Doris van der Heyden and Dorothy Alexander.
Van der Heyden and September worked in the Worcester prison tailoring shop, sewing uniforms for the warders – where Van der Heyden earned about R13 over her entire 10 years. She studied towards a Unisa BA course, receiving a degree in English and Psychology. While her comrades were released after five years, she spent an additional five years at Barberton prison and was released on April 12, 1974.
Cape Times
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