The ANC hosted a memorial service for Tina Joemat-Pettersson at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley.
“I SENT Tina a message saying that we believe her and that the storm shall pass.”
These were the words of the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, who was speaking at the memorial service of ANC MP and former Northern Cape MEC Tina Joemat-Pettersson.
The ANC hosted the memorial service at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley yesterday.
Motshekga said she was shocked to hear of Joemat-Pettersson’s passing.
“I sent her a message, saying that we must believe her and stand with her. I told her that this storm shall pass. She replied, saying it meant a lot to her. I could not believe it when I heard that she had passed away three days after that message,” Motshekga said, referring to media reports linking Joemat-Pettersson to fraud allegations.
[THREAD]
Family, loved ones, comrades and friends came together at the memorial service of Comrade Tina Joemat-Pettersson to express much gratitude for her care, sacrifice and resilience to fight for her people including the poor and downtrodden.
Ons is verewig dankbaar… pic.twitter.com/J7J7NHxRvm
— African National Congress (@MYANC) June 14, 2023
Motshekga added that Joemat-Pettersson was more than just a comrade to her.
“Tina and I sat next to each other in Cabinet. We used to ‘skinder’ and share notes during Cabinet meetings. She was my sister, friend and comrade. Our children even became friends. My son called her sons and they indicated to him that they are deeply shocked and trying to process things. It has been an emotional roller-coaster for all of us,” she said.
Motshekga urged members of the party to afford Joemat-Pettersson’s children time to mourn.
“There are reports stating that the children had snubbed the ANC. That is not the truth. The children are still in shock, but we will still continue to stand by them and comfort them during this time. Tina left a void in all our lives. She was very close to her children and was always with her children. The children are trying to process things.”
Motshekga said that Joemat-Pettersson was an “open book”.
“Tina was bright and very resourceful. It was easy to ask for advice from her and she always shared her knowledge. She was very hard-working and at times our paths would go parallel, but that never broke the bond we had. If you ever spent time with or stayed with her, you would continuously laugh throughout the visit,” Motshekga recalled.
She described Joemat-Pettersson as a “radical leader”.
“The Northern Cape was leading all other provinces in the matric results when Tina was the MEC. That department was led by an energetic and young woman.”
Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul also reiterated that the children should be afforded an opportunity to carry out their mother’s wishes.
“The children are deeply pained by the passing of their mother. They are in a very fragile state. The wish of their mother was to be cremated during a private ceremony. This is not snubbing the ANC or any of their mother’s friends, but they are merely fulfilling their mother’s wishes. That also does not mean that her life and the contribution Tina made to the liberation struggle should not be remembered,” said Saul.
