'Small in stature but a force in SA politics'

South African opposition political leaders, including United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa and African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyolwethu Zungula, have extended their condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of the late African National Congress (ANC) deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, following her death yesterday.

Zungula described Duarte as dynamite in a small package.

"She may have been small in stature but she was a force who stood her ground for what was right in a male-dominated political landscape. She was resolute...

"We might be in different political parties but this does not mean that we are enemies and need to celebrate when other political parties are suffering a loss.

"... As the ATM, [we] offer our condolences to the ANC and the family of Ms Duarte," he said.

Holomisa added: "My condolences to Duarte's family, the ANC and friends. She played her innings”.

"She [Duarte] and Barbara Masekela used to welcome me when called by Madiba [Nelson Mandela] for meetings at Shell House. Rest in peace, ma'am, and may your soul rest in peace.”

At peace

Duarte's brother Zane Dangor said the family was taking comfort in the fact that she was now at peace after her battle with cancer.

Dangor said she "took care of most of us, including myself, in the family.

"We have come to terms with her passing because we knew she was in pain for the past eight months.

"In the last couple of weeks, we spoke about that she was ready to go but she was only worried about how everyone else would deal with her passing," he said.

Matriarch

Among the many roles Duarte occupied were South Africa’s ambassador to Mozambique, ANC spokesperson and personal assistant to former ANC presidents Walter Sisulu and Mandela. She was a crucial part of the formation of the ANC Women's League.

ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said: "It is with profound sadness that the ANC has learnt of the passing of our deputy secretary-general, Comrade Yasmin 'Jessie' Duarte, during the early morning of Sunday, 17 July".

Duarte had been on medical leave since November 2021.

The ANC described Duarte as the matriarch and pillar of her family.

"The ANC expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Duarte, Dangor and Whitley extended families, loved ones and friends. She was both a tower of strength to the organisation as well as a matriarch and pillar of her family.

"The passing of Comrade Jessie is a great loss, not only to the family but to the democratic movement and the country as a whole. As a committed internationalist and former diplomat, not only will she be mourned by South Africa, but by colleagues and comrades on the African continent and in the international progressive movement," Mabe said.

"She dedicated her entire life to the struggle for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and just South Africa. A committed gender activist, she relentlessly championed the emancipation and empowerment of women. Her life and work reflected a consistent commitment to advancing the rights of the poor and marginalised.”

Duarte served as the deputy secretary-general of the ANC since 2012 and was a member of its national executive committee since 2002.