ANC Women’s League deputy president Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe’s dedication to her country and women is a wake-up call for those who are “sleeping in the ANC”, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa was speaking at the funeral of Mnganga-Gcabashe at a packed Durban ICC on Saturday.

Mnganga-Gcabashe died last week Sunday at the age of 64.

Ramaphosa said Mnganga-Gcabashe was a courageous and graceful leader, who served the ANC and South African women with unwavering dedication and dignity.

“We should continue building [the ANC[ so that those who are said to be sleeping inside the ANC who are called sleepers, should wake up from their stupor and realise that they are having a bad dream and wake up to the warm embrace of the African National Congress once again”.

Impact

Ramaphosa said the ANC lost Mnganga-Gcabashe at a time when the party needed her the most.

He said Mnganga-Gcabashe had a “truly impactful and impactive life”.

“Sometimes people can go through life without any impact, but today we are able to say that comrade Lungi has had a monumental impact on the life of her own organisation. We have lost her at a time when we needed her most, her honesty, dedication and the commitment she demonstrated throughout her life.”

WATCH President Cyril Ramaphosa deliver the eulogy at Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe’s funeral

President Cyril Ramaphosa pays tribute to Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe, the late deputy of the ANC Women's League, at her funeral pic.twitter.com/6L3Z2qY3Nw

— News Live SA (@newslivesa) May 24, 2025

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‘Peace, freedom and justice’

Ramaphosa said Mnganga-Gcabashe was drawn into political action by deep desire for “peace, freedom and justice”.  

“Her dedication was rooted in the values of her movement, the African National Congress and she expressed all this in the work that she did in the ANC Women’s League.

“She’s one of those outstanding women who walked every step of our people’s journey to democracy with fortitude and diligence. She was not afraid, she was not a coward and she was courageous,” Ramaphosa said.

Gertrude Shope

Earlier this week,  former ANC Women’s League president Gertrude Shope also died.

The veteran, also known as Ma Shope, died on Thursday at the age of 99.

Shope was an uMkhonto weSizwe leader and the first president of the ANC Women’s League following its relaunch in 1991. She also served on the ANC national executive, among many other roles she held in politics.

Ramaphosa said the country lost an “eminent national heroine and mother to our nation”.

“Her sacrifice, service and revolutionary bravery played out in formations from the African National Congress – where she was elected president of the Women’s League in 1990 – to the Federation of South African Women, the World Federation of Trade Unions and the first parliament of the democratic South Africa”

Shope’s funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

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