Northern Cape mourns Tina Joemat-Pettersson

A TEAM of ANC Northern Cape officials are travelling to Cape Town to help organise the funeral of Member of Parliament and former Cabinet minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson.

Expelled ANC member Carl Niehaus on social media described Joemat-Pettersson’s passing as a “terrible tragedy” and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

“I first met Tina years ago as a young MEC in the Northern Cape full of ideas, commitment and enthusiasm. How did it now come to this? What awful soul-destroying deadly secrets are lurking inside the ANC? What deadly tormented agony do these cause?”

ANC provincial deputy secretary Maruping Lekwene stated that the ANC national executive committee was in charge of all the funeral preparations.

“We are collaborating with the office of the ANC deputy secretary-general, Nomvula Mokonyane, and are ready to implement any mandate or directive. We will give the families space to mourn. We will offer the family support and will ensure that comrade Tina is given the decent send-off that she deserves. We will keep the public informed of any developments.”

Lekwene added that memorial services would be held in the Province for Kimberley-born Joemat-Pettersson.

He described Joemat-Pettersson as a tried and tested daughter of the movement, having served on various platforms within the ANC and SACP.

“She was an activist who served on the black consciousness movement. She fought for gender equality and equal opportunities. She was one of the youngest members of the Northern Cape provincial legislature where she was appointed at the age of 30 years.

“Before taking up ministerial positions, she served as the MEC for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Land Reform and brought the matric pass rate in the Northern Cape to the top during her tenure as MEC for the Department of Education.”

He added that Joemat-Pettersson was also contesting for the position of ANC Women’s League deputy president.

“I worked with her personally for many years. She was a perfectionist and wanted things to be done in a particular way. She was strict and while she may have come across as feisty she was a sharp-minded, strong character who needed things to be done the right way.”

The Speaker of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, Newrene Klaaste, extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

“As a member who served in the first Legislature in 1994 as a member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature as a member of the African National Congress, Joemat-Pettersson continued to hold several positions in the executive council. First as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education, Arts and Culture, and as MEC for Agriculture and Land Reform in 2004.

“Following the 2009 general elections, Joemat-Pettersson entered the National Assembly of South Africa. She went on to serve as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries between 2009 and 2014. She was later appointed Minister of Energy between 2014 and 2017. She returned to Parliament after the 2019 elections and served as chairperson of the portfolio committee on police, until her untimely passing.”

Klaaste stated that Joemat-Pettersson would be embedded in the archives of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.

“She will always be remembered for her dedication and robustness. She has served the Northern Cape community and the country at large through the various roles she occupied as a member of the legislature and as a member of Parliament, with diligence.”

DA provincial leader Harold McGluwa was saddened at Joemat-Pettersson’s passing.

“She occupied various political roles in the Northern Cape and National Assembly. She was a very active and vibrant individual who made an impact on the communities that she served. We extend our condolences to her family and the ANC whom she dedicated many years of service. May her soul rest in peace and may her family and friends find comfort in this time of grieving.”