Jessie' Duarte latest news

African National Congress deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte has died. ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe confirmed the death of “Comrade Yasmin 'Jessie' Duarte ...

“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.” Mabe said Duarte, who dedicated her life to the struggle for a “united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous, and just South Africa” would be buried in Johannesburg according to her Muslim rites on Sunday.

Jessie Duarte, deputy secretary general of the ANC, succumbed to cancer at the age of 68.

The political movement ActionSA said: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of acting ANC Secretary-General, Jessie Duarte, who passed away in the early hours of this morning. “The woes of the ANC weighed very heavily on her shoulders... The foundation added: “We send heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and comrades... “As the party, we would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Duarte, as well as her political colleagues in the ANC. I can’t imagine how difficult it must’ve been to hold the ANC, with all its wars and factions, together,” Zille told Weekend Argus. We further extend our condolences to the ANC for the loss of one of its leaders.”

Duarte was a lifelong political activist and a former politician and diplomat who had risen to the top of the governing party's leadership in 2012. Family ...

We celebrate her life as one decorated with full service to humanity,” Mangaye said. ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said Duarte had been a “pillar of strength” to both the party and her family and had committed her life to the struggle for equality in South Africa and on the continent. Duarte was a lifelong political activist and a former politician and diplomat who had risen to the top of the governing party’s leadership in 2012.

Yasmin 'Jessie' Duarte, the ANC's long-serving Deputy Secretary-General, died early on Sunday morning after a battle with cancer. Duarte was known for being ...

Duarte was the Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC since the 53rd National Conference in Mangaung, in December 2012. 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. Duarte was a personal assistant to both former ANC President Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu until 1994. However, she was released and placed under restriction orders until the State of Emergency was lifted. She served as an activist in various organisations including the Federation of Transvaal Women, a United Democratic Front (UDF) affiliate. She attended school in Coronationville, Johannesburg, and completed matric at Coronationville Secondary School.

Mandela's former special assistant was named the ANC's acting secretary general in May 2021, when the incumbent Ace Magashule was suspended.

While Zuma’s nine-year tenure as the nation’s president was tainted by corruption scandals, Duarte retained her ANC post after Cyril Ramaphosa succeeded him as its leader in late 2017. Born in Johannesburg on September 19, 1953, Duarte worked as a management accountant, helped establish women’s structures for the ANC in the 1970s and 1980s, and was detained without trial. She fell ill weeks after municipal elections in which support for the ANC fell below 50% for the first time.

Opposition political leaders, including UDM leader Bantu Holomisa and ATM leader Vuyolwethu Zungula, have extended their condolences to the family, ...

Her life and work reflected a consistent commitment to advancing the rights of the poor and marginalised. 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," said Mabe. "The ANC expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Duarte, Dangor, and Whitley extended families, loved ones, and friends. She was resolute and a force in the SA political landscape. She was both a tower of strength to the organisation as well as a matriarch and pillar of her family. "... as the ATM [we] offer our condolences to the ANC and the family of Ms Duarte," said Zungula.

The funeral is scheduled to start at 1pm at Westpark Cemetery. Story continues below Advertisement. She will be buried in Joburg according to Muslim rites.

At the time of her passing, Comrade Jessie was serving as deputy secretary-general of the ANC since 2012 and a member of its National Executive Committee since 2002. In its official statement, the ruling party said Duarte was both a tower of strength to the organisation as well as a matriarch and pillar of her community. The ANC confirmed on Sunday morning that Duarte died at the age of 68.