Workaholic at 80 years old

IF all community leaders were as passionate about their work, as the 80-year-old former Member of Parliament, Jeanette Vilakazi, this country would have made great strides in bringing about service delivery.

This was the sentiment expressed by the IFP activist Robert Mkhize. He was speaking at Jeanette Vilakazi’s 80th birthday and thanksgiving ceremony held last week at Empangeni Civic Centre.

‘We are gathered here to honour this living giant, who dedicated her entire life, serving the people of South Africa without fear or favour.

‘She is a classical example of a community leader who strives to put the interest of the people above anything else.

She is one woman I know who was active in politics, even during difficult times. But more importantly, even the death of her husband did not dampen her fighting spirit as both a political and community leader.

‘Mama Vilakazi remains one of the few leaders who has served the people of this country with diligence, honesty and integrity. Even though she was deployed by the IFP to the National Parliament in Cape Town, she understood that the people of South Africa came first. Many leaders of today could learn a thing or two from the life of Mama Vilakazi. She is a true workaholic.

‘Having Mama Vilakazi around us is a blessing on its own,’ said Mkhize who worked with Vilakazi and her late husband Edward, when the family resided at eSikhaleni.

A nurse by profession, Vilakazi also established the Retired Nurses Forum, calling them ‘Golden Girls.’

Speaking on behalf of the Retired Nurses Forum, Filda Gumede praised Vilakazi for being visionary and for restoring the dignity of all retired nurses.

There were also congratulatory messages from family, friends and from members of her church, St Mathews.

In her reply, Vilakazi said despite the misfortunes she suffered along the way, the future was always better with Christ and God.