Taung-FORMER North West MEC for health and social development Rebecca Onewang Kasienyane, who died at Mafikeng Hospital last Sunday after an illness, will be buried at Lokaleng village in Taung tomorrow.

Kasienyane, pictured, who had a rich history in participating in the struggle to liberate South Africa from apartheid, was born in Taung on March 7 1952.

 

At the time of her death, she was serving in the North West provincial legislature as the chairwoman of the portfolio committee on economic development and tourism.

 

“We are saddened by the loss of this humble human being, who was my predecessor and a dear fellow comrade in the ANC,” current provincial health and social development MEC Magome Masike said this week.

 

“She laid the ground for the good work that we continue to do to improve the health of our people. We share the loss that is deeply felt by the family and hope that they will find solace in knowing that God is with them.”

 

North West legislature spokesman Mongezi Tsenca said: “We mourn the untimely death of this dedicated servant of the people. May her soul rest in peace, knowing that many will pick up her spear and continue with the struggle until all our people have a better life.

 

“We dip our banners in memory of this gallant fighter for our people’s liberation.”

 

Kenny Morolong, spokesman for the ANC in North West, said: “We will remember her for her sound political leadership, maturity and her unflinching passion to improve the lives of our people.

 

“She was one of the most reliable cadres of our movement, who carried herself with integrity, dignity, humility, discipline and respect.

 

“Throughout her political activism Kasienyane displayed profound qualities of a revolutionary cadre, who placed the interests of our movement above her own.”

 

Kasienyane, affectionately known as Sis Ribs, was sworn in as a member of the provincial legislature on May 6 2009.

 

She joined the ANC’s underground activities in 1987, and later became the chairwoman of the ANC Lokaleng branch and deputy chairwoman of the ANC Women’s League in the Northern Cape region in 1993.

 

She was also the ANC’s provincial executive council member in Northern Cape from 1994 to 1996.

 

Kasienyane became the treasurer for the ANC’s then Bophirima region in North West from 1996 to 2001, before joining the ANC Women’s League’s provincial executive committee from 2001 to 2004.

 

She served as the ANC Women’s League national executive committee member from 2003 to 2007, later the ANC’s deputy chairwoman for the Bophirima region from 2005 to 2007.

 

Kasienyane was a provincial coordinator for the Women’s National Coalition from 1993 until 1994, when she became a monitor for the Independent Electoral Commission for the first democratic elections in South Africa.

 

She later became a councillor in the Bophirima district council from 1995 to 1999.

 

She was elected as a member of Parliament, serving in the portfolio committees for social development and agriculture from 1999 to 2004.

 

In 2008, Kasienyane was elected to the ANC North West’s provincial executive council as the party’s treasurer.

 

After the 2009 national elections, Kasienyane served as the provincial health and social development MEC until 2010.

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