WATCH: ANC announce a week of mourning ahead of Jessie Duarte’s memorial service

The African National Congress on Sunday said it would observe a week of mourning following the death of the party’s Acting Secretary General, Jessie Duarte.

Duarte’s memorial and burial

Duarte will be laid to rest at 2pm on Sunday as per Muslim burial rites, and a memorial service will be held on Thursday, 21 July 2022.

The ANC said it “will be a short service, probably an hour”. Only two speakers will be appointed at the burial – a family member, and the party’s Paul Mashatile.

Mashatile said: “In that hour, we must also accommodate the Muslim rites which will be performed. My speech as the treasures general will also cover the alliance. We will not have speakers from the alliance”.

ALSO READ: Jessie Duarte’s funeral: ANC DSG will be laid to rest on Sunday

Duarte, a servant of the people

Earlier on Sunday, the ANC said it “dips its revolutionary banner” to mourn Jessie Duarte’s passing, describing her as an activist and servant of the people.

“The ANC is highly indebted to comrade Duarte. […] Her loss will reverberate throughout all our structures”.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) described Duarte “a fierce, firm and forthright individual who paid her dues to the struggle for liberation in South Africa”.

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