Dwarsloop – The late African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee member Violet Sizani Siwela was laid to rest in Dwarsloop, near Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, on Saturday (27 January 2024).
Siwela, who was the National Assembly’s chairperson for the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development, had been in and out of hospital before she passed away last week, on 18 January 2024.
Siwela died at the age of 67.
Born on 26 April 1956, in Bushbuckridge, she dedicated her life to the service of the people of South Africa leaving an indelible mark on the political landscape.
At the time of her passing, the ANC said: “Comrade Violet Sizani Siwela’s departure leaves an irreplaceable void, and our thoughts and condolences go out to her family, friends, colleagues, and the people she served with dedication”.
On Saturday, ANC Women’s League members in their green, yellow, and gold regalia came out in their numbers to pay their last respects and bid farewell to their fellow fallen comrade.
During the funeral, members of the Women’s League stood in a line next to Siwela’s white coffin covered with the ANC flag.
Delivering the eulogy, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as the ANC’s deputy president, said Siwela had been a true and dedicated ANC member and comrade until the end.
The deputy president said Siwela had also shown a huge of support and diligence in the fight against gender-based violence.
“When we reflect on Comrade Violent Siwela, if she was still alive today, she would encourage all of us to rally behind the support of the ANC,” Mashatile said.
The deceased was one of the long-serving ANC members in Mpumalanga and she rose through the ranks of the ANC.
Siwela previously served as the executive mayor at Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.
She was later deployed to the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, where she served as the MEC in the portfolios of humane settlements and agriculture.
Siwela’s contribution to the party was illustrated by the ANC’s adjourning its ongoing NEC meeting.
The ANC said it will resume its scheduled NEC two-day meeting on Sunday after it was adjourned to allow its members to attend Siwela’s funeral.
“The NEC meeting will be followed by the NEC Lekgotla, which will map the programme of action for the year ahead,” the ANC said in a terse statement.
