Jessie Duarte: Leading official in South Africa's ruling ANC party dies aged 68
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa praised Jessie Duarte for fighting for women's rights during and after South Africa's struggle against white minority rule and apartheid, which ended in 1994.
Jessie Duarte was an ANC national executive committee member for more than 25 years
[WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images]
The New Arab Staff & Agencies
17 July, 2022
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the long-serving deputy secretary-general of his ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, Jessie Duarte, who died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
Duarte, 68, was elected to the leading position in the ANC in 2012 and had been serving until she went on medical leave in November last year.
"Although our beloved comrade Jessie has been gravely ill for several months, it is difficult to comprehend that someone with such vitality and such spirit has departed this earth," Ramaphosa told mourners on Sunday.
"Comrade Jessie was a faithful, dedicated and fiercely loyal leader of the African National Congress," said Ramaphosa.
He praised her for fighting for women's rights during and after South Africa's struggle against white minority rule and the system of racial oppression known as apartheid, which ended in 1994.
"Jessie was relentless in advancing the position of women in all areas of public and private life," said Ramaphosa.
"She confronted the patriarchal attitudes and practices that sought to diminish the role and contribution of women in Parliament, in government and across society," he said.
Some of the influential roles Duarte played include being a spokeswoman for the ANC and a personal assistant to Nelson Mandela after he was released from prison in 1990.
She was a leading member of the ANC Women’s League and also served as South Africa's ambassador to Mozambique.
Duarte, a member of the ANC's national executive committee for more than 25 years, attracted support from rival factions within the party, which led many to describe her as a unifier.
She has often faced criticism for her spirited public defence of the ANC, despite growing evidence that many of its officials are corrupt and ineffective.
A recent judicial investigation into graft allegations during the rule of former President Jacob Zuma from 2009 to 2018 found substantial wrongdoing on the part of the ANC party and some of its top officials.
In recent years Duarte has also been criticised for her attitude toward the media as she often publicly criticised journalists that she viewed as anti-ANC.
Some opposition political parties have praised Duarte for her role in the struggle against apartheid and sent messages of condolences to her family and the ANC.
An official funeral according to Islamic rites was held for Duarte at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg where she was buried on Sunday.
An official memorial service will be held later this week.
17 July, 2022
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the long-serving deputy secretary-general of his ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, Jessie Duarte, who died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
Duarte, 68, was elected to the leading position in the ANC in 2012 and had been serving until she went on medical leave in November last year.
"Although our beloved comrade Jessie has been gravely ill for several months, it is difficult to comprehend that someone with such vitality and such spirit has departed this earth," Ramaphosa told mourners on Sunday.
"Comrade Jessie was a faithful, dedicated and fiercely loyal leader of the African National Congress," said Ramaphosa.
He praised her for fighting for women's rights during and after South Africa's struggle against white minority rule and the system of racial oppression known as apartheid, which ended in 1994.
"Jessie was relentless in advancing the position of women in all areas of public and private life," said Ramaphosa.
"She confronted the patriarchal attitudes and practices that sought to diminish the role and contribution of women in Parliament, in government and across society," he said.
Some of the influential roles Duarte played include being a spokeswoman for the ANC and a personal assistant to Nelson Mandela after he was released from prison in 1990.
She was a leading member of the ANC Women’s League and also served as South Africa's ambassador to Mozambique.
Duarte, a member of the ANC's national executive committee for more than 25 years, attracted support from rival factions within the party, which led many to describe her as a unifier.
She has often faced criticism for her spirited public defence of the ANC, despite growing evidence that many of its officials are corrupt and ineffective.
A recent judicial investigation into graft allegations during the rule of former President Jacob Zuma from 2009 to 2018 found substantial wrongdoing on the part of the ANC party and some of its top officials.
In recent years Duarte has also been criticised for her attitude toward the media as she often publicly criticised journalists that she viewed as anti-ANC.
Some opposition political parties have praised Duarte for her role in the struggle against apartheid and sent messages of condolences to her family and the ANC.
An official funeral according to Islamic rites was held for Duarte at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg where she was buried on Sunday.
An official memorial service will be held later this week.
Anti-apartheid activist, African National Congress veteran Yasmin Jessie Duarte dies at 68
Yasmin “Jessie” Duarte was the longest serving member of the ruling party’s national executive council, after first being elected to the body in 1999 under the leadership of then president Thabo Mbeki.
Press Trust of India
Yasmin “Jessie” Duarte was the longest serving member of the ruling party’s national executive council (AFP)
South Africa's veteran freedom fighter and Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC), Yasmin “Jessie” Duarte, passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. She was 68.
The ANC confirmed that Duarte passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Duarte had been on medical leave since November last year as she underwent treatment for cancer.
She was the longest serving member of the ruling party’s national executive council (NEC), after first being elected to the body in 1999 under the leadership of then president Thabo Mbeki.
Sharing its condolences, the ANC said Duarte had been “a tower of strength to the organisation as well as a matriarch and pillar of her family. “
“The passing of Comrade Jessie is a great loss, not only to the family but to the democratic movement and the country as a whole,” ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said in a statement.
“She dedicated her entire life to the struggle for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous, and just South Africa. A committed gender activist, she relentlessly championed the emancipation and empowerment of women. Her life and work reflected a consistent commitment to advancing the rights of the poor and marginalised,” Mabe added.
“As a committed internationalist and former diplomat, not only will she be mourned by South Africa, but by colleagues and comrades on the African continent and the international progressive movement,” he said.
A management accountant by profession, Duarte joined the freedom struggle at an early age and was involved in setting up women’s structures throughout South Africa while the ANC remained banned in the country under the white minority government.
Duarte served as the personal assistant to Nelson Mandela, who was released after 27 years of imprisonment as a political prisoner to become South Africa’s first democratically elected president.
She was also the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Safety and Security in Gauteng province and South Africa’s ambassador to neighbouring Mozambique for a period.
In April this year, Duarte spoke out after widespread rumours on social media that she had died of cancer. She had earlier indicated that she would step down from her position at the next elective conference of the ANC, scheduled for the end of this year.
Duarte’s funeral by Muslim rites was scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
She was married to John Duarte, with whom she had two children. The couple were divorced in 2001.
Yasmin “Jessie” Duarte was the longest serving member of the ruling party’s national executive council, after first being elected to the body in 1999 under the leadership of then president Thabo Mbeki.
Press Trust of India
Johannesburg
July 17, 2022
Yasmin “Jessie” Duarte was the longest serving member of the ruling party’s national executive council (AFP)
South Africa's veteran freedom fighter and Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC), Yasmin “Jessie” Duarte, passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. She was 68.
The ANC confirmed that Duarte passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Duarte had been on medical leave since November last year as she underwent treatment for cancer.
She was the longest serving member of the ruling party’s national executive council (NEC), after first being elected to the body in 1999 under the leadership of then president Thabo Mbeki.
Sharing its condolences, the ANC said Duarte had been “a tower of strength to the organisation as well as a matriarch and pillar of her family. “
“The passing of Comrade Jessie is a great loss, not only to the family but to the democratic movement and the country as a whole,” ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said in a statement.
“She dedicated her entire life to the struggle for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous, and just South Africa. A committed gender activist, she relentlessly championed the emancipation and empowerment of women. Her life and work reflected a consistent commitment to advancing the rights of the poor and marginalised,” Mabe added.
“As a committed internationalist and former diplomat, not only will she be mourned by South Africa, but by colleagues and comrades on the African continent and the international progressive movement,” he said.
A management accountant by profession, Duarte joined the freedom struggle at an early age and was involved in setting up women’s structures throughout South Africa while the ANC remained banned in the country under the white minority government.
Duarte served as the personal assistant to Nelson Mandela, who was released after 27 years of imprisonment as a political prisoner to become South Africa’s first democratically elected president.
She was also the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Safety and Security in Gauteng province and South Africa’s ambassador to neighbouring Mozambique for a period.
In April this year, Duarte spoke out after widespread rumours on social media that she had died of cancer. She had earlier indicated that she would step down from her position at the next elective conference of the ANC, scheduled for the end of this year.
Duarte’s funeral by Muslim rites was scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
She was married to John Duarte, with whom she had two children. The couple were divorced in 2001.
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