Johannesburg – Public Service Minister and African National Congress NEC member Collins Chabane on Thursday appealed to ANC members to fill the void left by three senior members who died recently.

The party lost Limpopo education MEC Thembi Nwendamutswu, struggle veteran Nelson Diale and former army general Gabriel Ramushwana within five days.

Chabane said the province was covered by dark clouds and pleaded for ANC members to rebuild the party.

Speaking at the memorial service of Nwendamutswu, Chabane told leaders to “build a stronger ANC to fill the void which has been left by these gallant fighters”.

Nwendamutswu, Swazi-born who became South African by marriage, joined the struggle against apartheid when her family was in solidarity with the ANC cause and provided refuge for freedom fighters.

Chabane described her as “a woman who was dedicated to the struggle of people of South Africa”.

He said her contribution to the party had earned her votes from ANC members in the branches, which led her to occupying a senior position in the party and government. Nwendamutswu and her biological family had helped South Africa to gain freedom.

“Comrade Thembi achieved something that not many women have achieved. She might be the only one, and people wonder why. It is achieved by few and most probably she might be the only one,” he said.

Members of the ANC, government leaders, education department officials, political leaders and others described Nwendamutswu as a “courageous and humble” leader.

Nwendamutswu died last week Friday after she missed what was to be her first matric results announcement.

Earlier on Thursday, dignitaries, government employees, struggle veterans and members of the ANC lined to join others inside the packed Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane.

President Jacob Zuma declared a provincial official funeral for Nwendamutswu.

She will be buried on Saturday in Thohoyandou.