ANC pays tribute to Ronnie Mamoepa

The African National Congress is gravely saddened by the loss of one of its finest sons Ronnie Mamoepa, who died at the age of 56 in a Pretoria hospital shortly before midnight on Saturday, the party said.

“Comrade Ronnie was a militant, loyal, and dedicated servant of our people who earned his stripes in the youth movement, our people’s parliaments, and government. He was a distinguished communications commissar who served our movement and the government it leads with humility, diligence, and excellence,” ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said on Sunday.

Mamoepa was a critical component of a notable corps of political communicators who consolidated and strengthened the work of the ANC’s department of information and publicity following the unbanning of the ANC.

“Comrade Ronnie was also a proud and loving husband and father, and our thoughts and prayers are therefore concentrated on his immediate and extended family. The African National Congress sends its heartfelt condolences to comrade Ronnie’s wife Audrey, his children, and the Mamoepa family at large. As a movement, we share the deep sorrow they feel during this difficult time,” Kodwa said.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Mamoepa familiy spokesman Groovin Nchabeleng said it was with profound sadness that the Mamoepa family announced the death of their beloved son Ronnie Mamoepa.

“Ronnie passed on in the late evening [Saturday] at a hospital in Pretoria after battling complications arising from a stroke he suffered last month. He was receiving the highest medical care.

“Ronnie Mamoepa is an icon of the country’s liberation struggle having served five years of his youth in incarceration at the infamous Robben Island prison in Cape Town,” he said.

The Democratic Alliance, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor – who worked closely with Mamoepa during her time as home affairs minister – and Ramaphosa and President Jacob Zuma also expressed sadness at Mamoepa’s death and conveyed their sincere condolences to Mamoepa’s immediate and extended family, comrades, friends, and colleagues.

“This is a great loss to me personally, to the presidency, and government at large,” Ramaphosa said.