South Africa: death of Jessie Duarte, pillar of the ANC

Former President Jacob Zuma (left) and Jessie Duarte at the 54th ANC congress in December 2017. REUTERS / Siphiwe Sibeko

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In South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) announced the death of Jessie Duarte, at the age of 68.

Appointed secretary general of the ANC in May 2021, before stepping back in November to treat cancer, she was a pillar of the ruling party.

Jessie Duarte served her party and her country by serving as ambassador to Mozambique between 1999 and 2003. A long-time activist, she was also Nelson Mandela's personal assistant.

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with our correspondent in Johannesburg,

After his release from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela made Jessie Duarte his personal assistant.

This activist who experienced the detention and interrogations of the apartheid regime, remained at Madiba's side until 1994 and his election as President of the Republic.

She was able to closely follow the negotiations that led to the end of the segregationist regime.

Yasmin Jessie Duarte spends the rest of her career serving her party's interests.

She joined the National Executive Committee of the ANC in 1997, and became Deputy Secretary General from 2012. She embodies these pillars of the ANC who know perfectly the mysteries of the party and know how to cross political eras, despite internal quarrels. .

Read also: Jessie Duarte, a new face at the head of the ANC

In unison, the various South African political parties salute her memory and her struggles, that for the defense of the rights of the Palestinians or for the emancipation of women and their place in politics.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy during his funeral organized, this Sunday, July 17 afternoon, according to the Muslim rite.

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• South Africa

• Nelson Mandela