Tributes pour in after ANC MP Alice Mthembu’s death

Parliament has added its condolences to those pouring in for ANC MP Alice Mthembu.

Mthembu was killed in a car accident on Tuesday. Further details on the crash will be provided, once received.

“Ms Mthembu, a member of the National Assembly since 2019, served diligently in various parliamentary committees, including the Committees on Communications and Digital Technologies, Defence and Military Veterans, as well as the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.

“The Presiding Officers mourn the passing of a dedicated and tireless public representative who served her constituency in the KwaZulu-Natal province and the people of South Africa with unwavering commitment and dedication.”

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It hailed her as a dedicated advocate on gender equality and “a tireless campaigner for gender perspectives in policy and law-making processes”.

“She wholeheartedly devoted herself to the advancement of women’s rights and the empowerment of marginalised groups, leaving an enduring impact on the quest for a fairer society.”

Parliament’s presiding officers offered their support to Mthembu’s family, and said her passing was a tragic reminder of the levels of accidents that continue to plague our roads.

“We share in the family’s sorrow during this painful period and pay tribute to the memory of an exceptional public servant. As families gather to celebrate the joyous Christmas season, the loss of precious lives on our roads casts a dark shadow, causing unimaginable pain and grief [to] countless families.”

Christmas crashes

At least 20 people were killed in four separate crashes in three provinces at the start of the long Christmas weekend.

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six people were killed when the mini-bus overturned on the R38 near Nelshoogte Pass between Barberton and Badplaas in Mpumalanga on Saturday, while the N3 near Van Reenen in KZN was closed for closed for several hours after a multi-vehicle crash in which seven people died.

Four people died in another crash in the Free State on Friday.

Additional reporting by Molefe Seeletsa