Anti-apartheid activist Nan Cross died peacefully at Nazareth House, in Yeoville, Johannesburg, in the early hours of July 14 at the age of 79.
”She was a tiny little woman, but she wasn’t afraid of anything,” said Ceasefire campaign acting coordinator Laura Pollecutt. ”She kept us all going … if we became a little battle-fatigued … she was there for us.”
A founding member of the Conscientious Objector Support Group, Cross was active in the End Conscription Campaign and Conscription Advice Service.
”Many of the young men who became conscientious objectors drew inspiration and strength from her. She regularly attended court when the law came down on them and gave support and solace to their families,” said Pollecutt.
”Her ability to integrate her religious faith with her commitment to social justice and non-violence drew her into anti-apartheid activity. She had a strong personality and an incredibly sharp and honed intellect.”
At one arms exhibition, Cross clambered on to a tank and plastered it with stickers reading ”Arms are for hugging, not killing”.
With the demise of apartheid, she helped start the Ceasefire Campaign, an anti-war organisation committed to disarmament and the reduction and eventual elimination of the arms trade.
”She was a very fine person, a stickler for detail, somebody who continued to work right into her late 70s on issues that were important to her,” said friend and fellow activist Paul Goller. ”She was a great person and a great contributor to the struggle for freedom in South Africa.”
Goller said Cross’s health had deteriorated significantly in the past few months. Her death came only a week after she was honoured with a celebratory tea party at which she was surrounded by friends and family.
Although not married herself, Cross was very much a ”family person” who saw a lot of her numerous nieces and nephews, he said. She is survived by her sisters, Betty and Marjorie. — Sapa