Edu MEC will be missed

POLOKWANE – Limpopo education MEC, Thembi Nwendamutswu, passed away in a hospital in Pretoria on Friday after a short illness.

Nwendamutswu served the provincial government and its people as MEC from June last year. Prior to this, she was CEO of the Independent Development Trust and was appointed trea-surer of the ANC provincial task team after the disbandment of the provincial executive committee in 2013.

Nwendamutswu had significant public sector expertise in the transformation turnaround strategy, corporate governance, public sector policy implementation management and monitoring.

In her former position as CEO of the Independent Development Trust (IDT), she succeeded in turning the organisation into a highly respected and world-class agency for development and boasted 10 consecutive clean audits during her tenure.

Education minister Angie Motshekga described Nwendamutswu as a hard working and committed leader of the ANC.

DA Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, said she had had an open door policy and she was seen as the “mother of the province” who was expected to provide quality education for its children.

ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Limpopo coordinator Musa Chabane said the ANCYL also offered their condolences to the Nwendamutswu family. “We have learnt with sadness of the untimely demise of Thembi Nwendamutswu. Her unfortunate death has robbed South Africa of one of its finest politicians, and a strategist of note,” he said.

Funeral arrangements:

• A memorial service will be held on Thursday for Nwendamutswu in Polokwane at the Jack Botes Hall. The service will start at 12:00 noon.

• Nwendamutswu’s funeral service will take place in Thohoyandou on Saturday. The funeral proceedings will start at 07:00 at the Thohoyandou stadium.