Equal Education co-founder Yoliswa Dwane hailed as an outstanding, graceful leader
“Sis Yoli was formidable. A strong and graceful nkokheli [leader].”
This is how Equal Education described Dimbaza-born Yoliswa Dwane, one of the cofounder of the organisation, who died of cancer on Friday. She was 40.
Dwane, who moved to Khayelitsha in the Western Cape, completed a degree in media, film and visual studies, and then a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Cape Town.
In 2008, she co-founded Equal Education with Doron Isaacs and Zackie Achmat. She was elected to two terms as Equal Education’s chair, serving from 2012 until 2018.
Under her leadership the organisation flourished, running widely acclaimed campaigns to improve school infrastructure and install libraries in township schools.
Dwane helped grow an organisation that started with a handful of people in a room into a mass movement.
She deposed an affidavit in the court case that ultimately secured the adoption of norms and standards for school infrastructure by the minister of education.
Dwane shunned the opportunity to do her articles and become a practising attorney.
Instead, she chose to be an activist and consequently never earned a substantial salary.
She lived a modest life in Khayelitsha and her healthcare was primarily managed in the public sector.
Upon her death, Achmat wrote: “Her last few years were difficult in many different ways. She was steel in the face of injustice.”
In a moving statement, Equal Education said: “She believed absolutely that parliamentary engagements, media advocacy, policy outputs and legal interventions are given their power — and much legitimacy
— by our grassroots organising across the country every day.
“She cared deeply for the lives of every single one of our members and consistently challenged the young people working inside EE to foreground Equalisers in all of our work.
“Sis Yoli’s contribution to the struggle for equity and justice in postapartheid SA is undeniable.
“We are very grateful to her for it. We wish we had celebrated your life more, Sis Yoli, while you were still with us.”
Dwane’s mother, Boniswa Dwane, told Groundup via a relative that she was still shocked.
She said she had raised a beautiful young lady who was a leader and a good example.
“We loved her. She should rest now and she’ll forever be in our hearts.”
The Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education said of Dwane: “She played a significant role in leadership development in the conceptualising and running of our educational programmes.
“We pay tribute to her today as a valued and much-loved comrade who contributed so significantly to the growth of Tshisimani, and to Equal Education. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, comrades and friends.”
The Socioeconomic Rights Institute of SA said: “Yoliswa was an outstanding leader and critical voice in the advancement of the rights of education.”
The Canon Collins Trust said: “Rest in Power, Yoliswa Dwane, and may your influence and impact continue to reverberate through the work of Equal Education and in improving justice of SA’S education systems for years to come.”
We loved her. She should rest now and she’ll forever be in our hearts