Dignified Ruth Mompati hailed a community builder
ANC stalwart Ruth Mompati has been described as a community builder who served her people with perseverance, respect and dignity, rather than chasing top positions within the party.
The ANC held a memorial service at Zolani community centre in Nyanga last night to celebrate Mompati’s life and her contribution to the country. Representatives from the ANC Women’s League, SA Communist Party and the ANC Youth League attended the service.
Former MP, ambassador and North West mayor Mompati headed the ANC in the Northern Cape from 1991 to 1994 and died aged 89 after an illness last week.
ANC provincial leader Marius Fransman said Mompati showed that politicians don’t need to be a minister to be respected.
“A fighter has fallen. What is important for the ANC in Western Cape is to realised that she was a hero of ours. She also stayed in Cape Town at some stage and therefore we are honouring her deeply. She was a leader who fought for women’s empowerment even when we were not liberated,” Fransman said.
He said part of Mompati’s legacy was creating equality in the struggle for men and women.
“We must peruse the type of legacy MaRuth has left us. To her it was not about the present but also about the future. When Madiba asked her what position she would like to hold, she was able to say she wanted to work for the community,” said Fransman.
The SACP’s Benson Ngqentsu said: “In memory of MaRuth, let us strengthen the progressive women’s movement. MaRuth clearly understood the pillars of our struggle. She has gone at a critical time. It is a moment when the women’s league is preparing for its national congress.”
President Jacob Zuma announced she would be given a special state funeral in her hometown, Vryburg, in North West tomorrow.