Struggle icon Rita Ndzanga to be buried on Saturday

Struggle icon Rita Alice Ndzanga will be laid to rest on Saturday at Ga Mogopa village, just outside Ventersdirp in the North West.

She passed away last week at the age of 88.

The late struggle veteran, has been accorded the Special Official Provincial Funeral Category 2, by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The body of the late struggle icon Rita Alice Ndzanga has been handed over to the North West ANC leadership at Potchefstroom.

Ndzanga was born at Ga MOGOPA village near Ventersdorp, but did most of her activism in Gauteng.

Government spokesperson, Brian Setswangambung says, “We are here talking about a stalwart of the liberation struggle, whose contribution was immense to the liberation of this particular country. Premier Bushy Maape will be one of the key figures, that will be rendering eulogy. MEC Panyaza Lesufi from Gauteng province will be delivering tribute during the funeral service.”

Body of the late ANC struggle icon, Rita Ndzanga arrives at her birth place in North West

She was awarded the Order of Luthuli by President Thabo Mbeki in 2004.

A trade unionist of note, Ma-Ndzanga was an organiser for the South African Railways and Harbour Union.

During the 1950s, she was involved in the formation of the South African Congress of Trade Unions.

She was also banned and prohibited from attending any political gathering in 1964.

After the 1976 Soweto Uprisings, Ndzanga was detained and charged with recruiting young students for military training.

She suffered a major blow when her husband, Lawrence Ndzanga, died in detention in January 1977.

After the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC), she was elected as the chairperson and treasurer of the Senaoane ANC branch in Soweto which was named after her husband.

Thabo Mbeki on Ndzanga

Speaking at Ndzanga’s memorial service held at Dlamini, in Soweto, on Thursday, former President Thabo Mbeki said the ANC owes it to Ndzanga to successfully renew itself.

Mbeki said the ANC needs to reproduce more people like Ndzanga and rid itself of the corrupt individuals who pursue their personal ambitions.

Mbeki insists that the process of rebuilding the governing party must be genuine.

He says, “We can’t cheat the masses of the people, we can’t. The masses of people know who is wrong, who is bad amongst us. I am sure you can go to all the townships here in Soweto and the people will say why is the ANC keeping so and so. So I am saying we are fortunate in that, therefore we have this examiner that is the people who will give us the marks to say we have passed so when we engage the process of renewal it has to be genuine.”