It seems the ANC will have to persue its historical mission of emancipating the previously marginalised people of this country without a further contribution from one of its significantly important cadre of the movement, following an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that she has died.
Photo: News24
Ramaphosa confirmed on his official Twitter acccount that former National Assembly Speaker, Frene Ginwala, has sadly passed away this morning in her home.
Media report swirled two weeks ago that Ginwala, 90, had suffered a stroke, and it appears she could not respond to the medical assistance she was receiving as she succumbed to the effects of the deadly ailment.
The president expressed great sadness, but he equally waxed lyrical about the significant contribution Ginwala made throughout her activism.
Photo: Alcheron
“Today we mourn the passing of a formidable patriot and leader of our nation, and an internationalist to whom justice and democracy around the globe remained an impassioned objective to her last days,” Ramaphosa said about Ginwala in glowing terms.
He went further to indicate that Ginwala encapsulated the ethics conduct of such an important official during her 10 years as the speaker (1994-2004), and that she was a huge proponent for a transformative constitution.
Screenshot: Twitter
“Ginwala epitomised the ethos and expectations of our then fledgling consititution and played an important role in building the capacity of parliament.”
He also stated that Ginwala was a giant of a special kind due to her participation in the fight against apartheid colonialism and the ushering in of the democratic dispensation.
Screenshot: Twitter
“We have lost another giant among a special generation of leaders to whom we owe our freedom and to whom we owe our commitment to keep building the South Africa to which they devoted their all,” he concluded.
Photo: Reuters
Ginwala has died at a time the liberation movement and the country as whole are faced with a multiplicity of challenges.
You could argue that despite her elderly age, as a veteran, she could still share her wisdom and possibly help to quell the tensions that exist within the party following its highly charged conference last month.
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Source:
https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1613853568171216897?s=46&t=9hyo5UePfkKOhgotFG2SLg
https://twitter.com/cyrilramaphosa/status/1613853588719079424?s=46&t=9hyo5UePfkKOhgotFG2SLg
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