SA urged to emulate ex-minister
THE ANC has urged South Africans to emulate the activism shown by former minister of energy and minerals and ANC MP, Tina Joemat-pettersson, who died on Monday.
Tributes continue to trickle in for the former minister who has been described as a “committed public servant” by opposition political parties and individuals alike.
On Monday, following the news of her passing, the ANC, through its national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-motsiri, called on all South Africans to emulate her dedication, discipline and loyalty to the organisation and the country.
“The ANC urges its members and activists to emulate the example of dedication, discipline and loyalty that comrade Tina displayed.
“Even in her death, her voice will continue to speak in defence of ordinary people. In her memory and in carrying forward the legacy she leaves behind, we must commit ourselves to work towards a better life, anchored around the clause in the Freedom Charter that says ‘all national groups shall have equal rights’,” Bhengumotsiri said.
The 59-year-old parliamentarian was born in the Northern Cape and cut her teeth as a student activist before becoming a teacher and a labour activist.
She went on to serve as the MEC for education in the Northern Cape province and later the MEC for agriculture until 2009.
She served as an ANC national executive committee (NEC) member and was elected to the party’s national working committee in 2018.
In that year, Joemat-pettersson was elected chairperson of the National Assembly committee on police.
In 2021, she became a member of the ad hoc committee on the Section 194 inquiry, which will determine if the suspended Public Protector, advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane is fit to hold office.
Two weeks ago she was fingered in a R600 000 bribery claim by Mkhwebane’s husband, David Skosana, who alleged that Joemat-pettersson, alongside chairperson of the Section 194 inquiry, Richard Dyantyi, and ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina, tried to extort money from him in a bid to make the inquiry go away.
The ANC promised to investigate the allegations and that it would not hesitate to act should there be truth to the allegations.
The party said Joemat-pettersson’s death left a leadership void in the movement.
“The ANC is devastated by the untimely passing of comrade Tina, a member of the NEC and NWC. Her death has robbed our movement and the people of SA of a humble, dependable and dedicated servant … All those who love justice, freedom and democracy will surely miss her intellectual sharpness, political maturity and passion for defending those who are vulnerable in our society, especially women,” it said.
Joemat-pettersson’s legacy is mixed after she was implicated in a nuclear scandal while she was energy minister.
She was accused of orchestrating the sale of the country’s oil stocks, a decision that was later reversed by the Western Cape High Court.
Furthermore, she was fingered in a controversial attempt to acquire nuclear power for South Africa. However, she was cleared by Parliament’s ethics committee in March after being implicated by the Zondo commission of inquiry in relation to the nuclear agreements.
“The ANC urges its members and activists to emulate the example of dedication, discipline and loyalty that comrade Tina displayed. MAHLENGI BHENGU-MOTSIRI ANC National Spokesperson