Remembering Theresa Solomon: A daughter's tribute

Iconic anti-apartheid activist Theresa Solomon's legacy continues to inspire resilience and activism in the community.

Ms Solomon was laid to rest on Saturday, 19 July, following an official provincial funeral at Our Lady Help For Christians Catholic Church in Lansdowne.

The Plainsman caught up with Ms Solomon's daughter, Lee-Anne Levendal, ahead of the funeral – she shared heartfelt memories of her mother. 

What was it like having such a formidable woman, who was loved and respected by people from all walks of life across South Africa, as your mom?
It was an honour, but I won’t pretend it was always easy. My mom was larger than life, and she belonged to so many people. I wasn’t raised; I was politicised from the time I was born.

Growing up knowing that I shared my mother with all the children in our community, I quickly learned that her purpose extended far beyond our front door.

She carried the burdens and hopes of an entire community - and I understood why so many people needed her. She gave them strength, and in turn, I learned how to find strength in myself.

How has her social activism shaped you personally, as well as your family?
Her activism wasn’t something she “did.” It was who she was. And that shaped the rhythm of our home. Politics, justice, and service was our way of life. I was raised with a deep awareness of inequality and the responsibility to do something about it.

As a feminist and internationalist, I was conscientised by being read stories about revolutionary women such as Leila Khaled from Palestine, Domitali Chungara from Bolivia, Rosa Luxemburg from Germany, and Josina Machel from Mozambique, to name a few.

Personally, I inherited her intolerance for injustice and her refusal to remain silent in the face of it.

As a family, we were forged in activism, resilience, sacrifice, and the importance of community was a collective family objective. Even during difficult times, we knew her choices were rooted in love. For us and for the country.

'At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.' A notable quote by Ché Guevara was our family mantra.

Any memories that stand out from her years as an activist, mayor, or diplomat?
The most vivid memory of my mother as an activist in the 80s was when she prevented the City of Cape Town, accompanied by the police, from closing down a creche in Mitchell's Plain.

She was a woman alone with me at her side. Initially, I was afraid of the consequences, as I was acutely aware of what the consequences could be. She clutched my hand, and I immediately knew that being at her side, I should never fear an illegitimate authority and minority government.

As mayor, my fondest memory was when the CA1 vehicle would pull up. She would invite the children from our street – Orpheus Crescent, Woodlands, for a ride in the vehicle.

It soon became a regular occurrence when CA1 arrived for a group of children to gather for their turn to ride in this prestigious vehicle.

Diplomat in title yet activist at heart, my mother quickly acclimatised to life in Tanzania, especially because of the historical relationship between Tanzania, its citizens, and the African National Congress.

On my first visit to Tanzania, I found the community around her consisting of diplomats, business people and government officials. Yet those closest to her were people from civil society working in communities across the country.

Your mom was loved by so many who saw her as a mentor and mother, too. Tell us about the mother and daughter bond you shared.
Ours was a relationship rooted in fierce love, even if we didn’t always agree. My mom was both my compass and my challenger. She expected me to be strong – but also taught me how to love deeply.

Being Com T’s only child my only request was that in her genade jare  the space I occupied in her life be prioritised. But my mother had a special ability to make every person she encountered feel like the most important person to her.

So this was a challenging task for her. However, this request was granted because in her final days, it was just Theresa and Lee-Anne.

I was granted the honour of holding my mother in my arms as she took her last breath. In that moment of her physically leaving, I felt and still feel her spirit in my heart, soul, and everything I do.

I am my mother’s child! Our bond is more than blood – we are bound by purpose.

How would you want people to remember your mom and honour her legacy?
Remember her as someone who chose love over fear, and action over comfort. She didn’t wait for permission to do what was right – she simply did it.

I hope people honour her by continuing the work she was so passionate about: uplifting communities, fighting for dignity, and creating spaces where people feel seen and heard.

Her legacy is not a statue – it’s a movement of people who keep showing up, just like she did.

What is your message to the people of Mitchell's Plain, whom your mom loved so dearly?
You were her heartbeat. Mitchell’s Plain was not just her constituency – it was her community, her family, her home. She carried your stories everywhere she went, from City Hall to foreign embassies.

To the people of Mitchell’s Plain: thank you for loving her, supporting her, standing with her, and finally honouring her.

My message is simple - don’t stop dreaming, building, believing, and hoping for a better life for all. That’s what she would have wanted. Her light still shines through each of you. Do not allow fear to paralyse you from fighting injustice.