South African Minister for International Relations Lindiwe Sisulu, is arguably one of the most powerful Africans.
She has held numerous high ranking positions but it is her marriage to the late Prof. Rok Ajulu (Kenyan) that ranks the highest.
Theirs was a love born of ‘rebellion’ and an undying will to challenge the status quo in the face of overwhelming opposition.
On his part, the outspoken Kenyan political activist began his ‘left wing’ involvement in the corridors of the University of Nairobi, where he was expelled after being deemed too radical during the Moi era.
His father, Ntate Stephen Odero Ajulu, was also a political activist with the Kenya People’s Union led by Odinga Odinga, Raila Odinga’s father.
Prof Rok Ajulu consequently joined the rapidly growing socialist student movement in East Africa and was sent to study in Bulgaria, but as fate would have it, he eventually ended up at the National University of Lesotho (NUL).
Lindiwe, on the other hand, was garnering a reputation as an active African National Congress (ANC) party member.
Born to ANC legendary leaders Walter and Albertina Sisulu in Johannesburg, she grew under the apartheid era and consequently joined the fight to abolish the segregative system.
From 1975 to 1976, she was detained for her anti-apartheid activities after which she joined the military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the nation), specialising in intelligence.
It was during a stint in exile that the young Sisulu made her way to the University of Lesotho in pursuit of higher education.
The rest, as they say, is history with the two vocal activists from miles apart meeting and eventually tying the knot in 1996.
Interestingly, both their parents were incarcerated by the respective governments for political activism.
Prof. Ajulu succumbed to cancer in December 2016, leaving behind his children, Che Samora Ajulu, Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, Ayanda Sisulu, Olindi Obango and Vuyo Sisulu
