Loliwe lauded for work in parly, community
She met her death in the line of duty
Born: August 17 1964 Died: March 5
Funeral: March 16, in Frankfort outside Bhisho, Eastern Cape Burial: Frankfort Cemetery By Zine George and Sowetan Reporter Tributes poured in this week for ANC MP Fezeka Loliwe who died in a car crash on Monday afternoon in Eastern London.
Loliwe, 53, died when her car left the R63 near Fort Hare University’s Alice campus in Eastern Cape while driving to catch a flight in East London.
She had just overtaken a car when she inexplicably, at this stage, lost control as she returned to her lane and plunged down an embankment.
Loliwe served as chairwoman of the portfolio committee on labour and was returning from attending to her constituency work in Fort Beaufort when the fatal accident happened.
She was a former provincial secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), and its deputy president before joining the ANC in the National Assembly in 2014.
She was elected vice-president of the sports, arts and culture portfolio within Sadtu’s national structure.
She was first elected to the South African Communist Party’s (SACP) central committee in July 2012.
Her activism began during her college days at Lennox Sebe (now Griffiths Mxenge Teachers College), in King Williams Town in 1986, where she was later expelled.
She then moved to Dr WB Rubusana College in Mdantsane, East London, and completed her qualification in 1988. She taught maths at Siyababalwa High School in the King Williams district.
Loliwe was also involved in the Frankfort Youth Organisation before 1994.
At the time of her death she was serving her second term as a member of the SACP central committee following her re-election at the party’s 14th congress held in July last year.
Parliament’s presiding officers
‘‘ Former teacher served the people of South Africa with passion
– Speaker Baleka Mbete of National Assembly and National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise issued a statement this week saying they were shocked and engulfed by disbelief .
They said the Frankfortborn former teacher was one of the bright stars who served the people of SA faithfully and passionately.
SACP spokesman Alex Mashilo said the party lowered its flag to half-mast in memory of “the stalwart of our national democratic revolution”.
Loliwe, who was not married and had no children, leaves behind a brother and two sisters.