( CNN ) -- South Africa declared national days of mourning Saturday to honor Albertina Sisulu , an icon of the anti-apartheid movement who died this week . Sisulu was 92 . The president said flags would fly at half-mast and mourning would last until her burial , which will take place with military honors . Funeral plans for Sisulu , who died Thursday , have not been finalized . Sisulu was married to anti-apartheid leader Walter Sisulu for nearly 60 years . The couple played a pivotal role in the anti-apartheid movement , and her husband was imprisoned for decades with former South African President Nelson Mandela . Affectionately called `` Ma Sisulu , '' she was also detained numerous times and was held in solitary confinement for seven weeks in 1963 , the ruling African National Congress said . As soon as she was free , she took to the streets to rally against the trials of anti-apartheid movement leaders . `` Soon after her husband was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 , Albertina was served with a harsh five-year order prohibiting her from attending any gatherings of more than two persons , confining her to her location and preventing her from any political activities , '' the ruling party said . Years later , she faced various bans , including one confining her to her home at nights , weekends and public holidays . Despite the bans , she continued with her quest for liberation . `` Although politics has given me a rough life , there is absolutely nothing I regret about what I have done and what has happened to me and my family , '' she said , according to the ruling party . `` Instead , I have been strengthened and feel more of a woman than I would otherwise have felt if my life was different . '' Sisulu and her husband dedicated their lives to the struggle for freedom in South Africa , and endured banishment , detention and humiliation , said President Jacob Zuma . `` Mama Sisulu has over the decades been a pillar of strength not only for the Sisulu family , but also the entire liberation movement as she reared , counseled , nursed and educated most of the leaders and founders of the democratic South Africa , '' Zuma said . The president said the nation has lost a leader and a role model . Sisulu founded the Federation of South African Women and other civic groups . She gave political guidance and served as a mother figure to activists and other civic organizations , the African National Congress said . `` South Africa remains eternally grateful and indebted to this stalwart of the liberation and an assuming leader of all races of our people , '' Zuma said in a statement . Sisulu is survived by her children and grandchildren . Her husband died in 2003 .
Albertina Sisulu and her husband played a pivotal role in the fight to end apartheid . President Jacob Zuma declares days of national mourning . He says flags would fly at half-mast until the day of burial .