July 18, 2022
1 min read

Jessie Duarte, renowned anti-apartheid activist, dies at 68

Duarte, once a personal assistant to South Africa’s liberation struggle icons Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, had been serving as Deputy Secretary-General of ANC since 2012, a position in ANC’s “Top Six…reports Asian Lite News

South Africa’s renowned anti-apartheid activist and a top leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) Jessie Duarte passed away early Sunday morning, her party said in a statement.

Duarte, born on September 19, 1953, was undergoing treatment for cancer and had been on medical leave since November 2021, Xinhua reported quoting the statement.

Duarte, once a personal assistant to South Africa’s liberation struggle icons Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, had been serving as Deputy Secretary-General of ANC since 2012, a position in ANC’s “Top Six.” She was appointed as the acting secretary-general following the suspension of Ace Magashule in May 2021.

Mandela appointed her as special assistant when he was freed from jail in 1990, a position she held until he became president.

Duarte went on to serve as head of safety and security in the provincial cabinet in the central Gauteng region and spent eight years working for the Department of Foreign Affairs, becoming South Africa’s high commissioner to Mozambique. After exiting the diplomatic service in 2003, she was appointed the ANC’s spokeswoman and then served as chief operations officer in the Presidency until her resignation in 2010.

“She was both a tower of strength to the organisation as well as a matriarch and pillar of her family,” read the statement.

The party said her passing is a “great loss” to her family, the democratic movement and the country as a whole, commending her for dedication to a “united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and just” South Africa.

ANC also said she is a committed gender activist and consistently committed to advancing the rights of the poor and marginalised.

Duarte will be buried Sunday afternoon in Johannesburg according to Muslim rites.

Various political parties have sent their condolences to her family, including major opposition parties Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters.

ALSO READ: Ghana confirms first cases of deadly Marburg virus

Previous Story

Ghana confirms first cases of deadly Marburg virus

Next Story

Biden Accused of ‘Iranophobia’

Latest from AFRICA NEWS

Africa Bets on Digital Tourism Growth

The Magical Kenya Travel Expo, which runs until Friday, brings together over 6,500 delegates from 40 countries across the globe…reports Asian Lite News Senior officials at the 15th Magical Kenya Travel Expo

India, Kenya Navies Forge Stronger Ties

During the port call, personnel from both navies will engage in various professional and social interactions, including joint training activities…reports Asian Lite News Senior Officer of the First Training Squadron (1TS) and

South Africa Returns to UN Aviation Council

ICAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation…reports Asian Lite News South Africa has been re-elected to the International Civil Aviation

‘South Sudan on brink of new war’

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk says peace deal risks collapse as nearly 2,000 civilians killed this year…reports Asian Lite News South Sudan is teetering on the edge of another
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India’s Africa outreach aimed at keeping China at bay

While many Indian companies are already operating in Africa, several

RIO CARNIVAL

Revellers in the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.