MEC for Education to be buried tomorrow

The late MEC for Education in Limpopo, Thembisile Ellen Nwendamutsu, was hailed as a good leader by colleagues from the ANC, the official opposition, the DA, and numerous community organisations.

Nwendamutsu passed away on Friday in a private hospital in Pretoria after a short illness.

The spokespeson of the Limpopo Government, Mr Phuti Seloba, says Nwendamutsu was "a highly experienced, knowledgeable person, who was committed to work for the people." The ANC in the province, which she served as treasurer, described her as a cadre who put people first.

The provincial leader of the DA, Mr Jacques Smalle, also reacted with shock to the death of Nwendamutsu. He said she was a brave woman, who took the responsibility of ensuring that
learning in Limpopo schools was in progress. "Her open-door policy trademarked her as a leader who wanted to discharge her political will at the benefit of Limpopo education."

Seloba said Nwendamutsu, the wife of former MK leader John Mamabolo Nwendamutsu, will be buried at her home village of Matangari tomorrow (Saturday). National ministers, her colleagues from the Limpopo legislature and numerous dignitaries are expected to attend her funeral.

Nwendamutsu is survived by her husband, four children and two grandchildren. During her life, she worked as the CEO for Independent Development Trust. She was also an HOD at the Department of Social Development in Mpumalanga, Deputy Director at the Public Service Commission, Overall Coordinator of HRD with the RDP Commission in Limpopo, organization development consultant and trainer with the Human Awareness Program and project officer at Akanani Rural Development in Elim.

She was an exiled ANC member of MK, based in Dar es Salaam from 1986 to 1989. She was also a financial manager at the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College and a development worker at the Dakwana Orientation Centre Camp in Tanzania. She also taught English at an international school in Mozambique.

Among many of her qualifications, she had a masters degree in policy studies, an advanced diploma in accounting and a certificate in organization strategy management. She attended the Swazi High School.

Date:16 January 2015

By: Ndivhuwo Musetha

Read: 2946