Kimberley have lost of a political and religious activist, Sr Camilla Mary, born Dorothy Maria Camp on 17 September 1945 at Olive Road, Floors, Kimberley.
She was the eldest out of three children and the last one to depart from their household.
The Anglican Church’s Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman head, Bishop Oswald Swartz conducted the requiem mass on Saturday, 21 July 2018 at St Cyprian Cathedral. Amongst the mourners were family members from Cape Town, friends and parishioners from parts of Lesotho, Maquard in the Free State and her counterparts within the religious fraternity including, Secretary for the South African Council of Churches, Bs Melusi Mpumlwana.
The deceased grew up in the dusty streets of Floors and obtained her teachers Certificate from Perseverance Teachers Training College. She started her teaching career in Mafikeng then returned to Kimberley in 1968 and taught at Floors North Primary School.
According to Swartz, who was not only her spiritual father, Sr Camilla’s was also his childhood friend. He indicated that the deceased nun displayed a strong religious conviction from an early age. He said “Dorothy received her calling at the age of 14, at my brother’s funeral. She did not heed the call right away.” Her parent’s home was home away from home as It was always open to the destitute, irrespective of their circumstances.
The Bs explained how Camila as a young person, was vocal about the injustices which took place during those days and ended up on the wrong side of the law, as a result she was subjected to interrogation like everybody who was seen to be a threat.
She was commended for being an activist and a leader who took an active role in the community and building strong inter denominational relationships with other youth groups particularly from Methodist and Lutheran Churches, that’s where her friendship with Phakamile Mabija started. A Sunday School Teacher and the Leader for the St Barnabas Youth Club in Floors.
An emotional Fr Authur Gilbert paid a moving tribute to his childhood friend. His fond memories of her was when he came to visit them at the convent, Sr Camila would say “Authur my broer het jy nie ‘n R100 om tjopies te koop nie, sodat ons dit op die koele gooi”. He told mourners that Sr Camila bought him his first pair of Grasshopers when he was ordained as Deacon in 1977.
Fr Authur remembers how she travelled extensively throughout the Diocese with Phakamile Mabija and Lee Partolje (both are deceased) mobilising and sensitising other youth about what was happening in the country during those days. He said Fr Sabello Ntwasa and Fr Barry Mathews used to tease her by asking her to which political party she belonged and she would proudly answer “The Party of God.”
It was mentioned that she was a witness at Mr Phakamile Mabija’s inquest hearing during the apartheid regime.
She eventually responded to her call in 1981, at the age of 36, when she joined the Society of the Precious Blood of Jesus, in Lesotho and took her vows on 16 December 1989. She stayed and worked in Marquard and returned to Kimberley in 1991 until she passed on.
Teaching confirmation classes and establishing The Women Fellowship Society, were some of the duties that she performed diligently.
Her passing is a great loss especially to the frail Mother Elaine, 73. They met in Lesotho whilst they were novice. Mother Elaine described her friend as a free spirit who was broken by the apartheid government.
She reminisced about their daily lives and activities, remembering an unusual scene when they were walking out of Kimberley Hospital they met a Prison Warden and a prisoner. “Camila stopped and asked the prisoner “What are you in for?” and he answered “murder.” She asked to pray for him and the gentlemen agreed, as she started to pray the Prison warder joined in, people were surprised to see a nun, a prisoner and a prison warden holding hands and praying.”
Mother Elaine also remembers how Sr Camila went into solitude to pray when the house, which accommodated South Africans in Lesotho, was raided and burned in the eighties. She reckoned that being a nun enabled Sr Camila to deal with her anger.
Sr Camila passed on at the age of 72, leaving behind the Camp family in Cape Town, friends, relatives, the Anglican Church including the contemplative community.
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