By OBAKENG MAJE
Heartfelt condolence messages continue to pour into the Maluleke’s family after the passing of the former North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Johanna Mmule Maluleke.
Maluleke died today at her home in Mathibestad village near Rustenburg after a long illness. North West Provincial Legislature (NWPG) speaker, Sussana Dantjie said she is saddened by the sudden and untimely death of Maluleke.
Dantjie who spoke to Maluleke telephonically two days ago, said she was convinced that Maluleke was fully recovered especially that she presented no sign of illness whatsoever.
“This is a tragic loss to the legislature and to the nation as a whole. Death has robbed the people of the North West and South Africa at large, one of a dedicated servant of the people who selflessly served her nation with distinction and loyalty.
“Maluleke met her untimely death whilst serving as the Media Liaison Officer (MLO) in the office of the Speaker. She previously worked as the Member of the National Assembly (MP), MEC for Public Works in the North West Province and was at some stage the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Public Works,” she said.
Dantjie further said it is, therefore, the sincerest wish of her to express that in these entire mentioned portfolios. She added that Maluleke never disappointed as she served the public service with distinction.
“She was an accomplished, committed, and dedicated servant of the people with a high level of a very sharp mind who was ever ready to serve the people and her country.
“So, as the legislature, we are poorer without her. Maluleleke was a humble leader in her own right, imboqo, malibongwe, and a woman of note. She died on the day of the burial of one of the dedicated servants of the people, the late Victor Tsie,” said Dantjie.
Political background
According to the People’s Assembly website, Maluleke became involved in politics at primary school in Soshanguve, near Pretoria. She said then, she was quite unaware that she was gradually getting involved. In high school, she was actively involved in boycotts against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of learning.
“Student politics in 1984 were influenced by movements like the Black Power Movement. I was denied permission to enter Mathibestad in former Bophuthatswana homeland, where my parents lived, due to my political activity and told to return to Pretoria.
“Upon my return to Pretoria, I discovered that the programs we had been involved in at school had been driven by the mass democratic movement as our meetings had been held at the Roman Catholic Church in F section, Soshanguve where Pastor Smangaliso Mkhatshwa was the patron of the United Democratic Front (UDF),” she told the website.
After matriculating in 1992, Maluleleke returned to Mathibestad where she officially joined a branch of the ANC – underground of course. In 1993, when a recognised structure of the ANC was allowed to operate in Bophuthatswana, she was elected branch secretary.
“When the new municipal demarcations came in 2000, I then fell under ward 12 of Moretele Local Municipality where I was again elected branch secretary until 2002. From 2002 until the end of 2003 I was elected branch chairperson of the ANC Moretele branch and stayed there until 2008.
“In 2008, I relocated to ward 18 in the same municipality and was elected ward secretary for the third time. I have been a Regional Executive Committee Member of the ANC in the Bojanala Region since 2005 to date,” said Maluleke.
NB: To read more about Maluleke’s biography, kindly go to www.pa.org.za for more details
The Guardian 