By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the late Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, as an honest leader and praised her for patriotism.
Delivering the eulogy at Mkhize’s funeral at the Fourways Memorial Park in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa described her death as a loss to government and the South African public.
Ramaphosa said Mkhize will be remembered for her humanism.
“Our departed colleague has left behind many good works. Good works that are testified by many she brushed shoulders with during her journey on earth but what she has also left behind is a reminder that the values define us more than what we were.”
“She was one South African who truly loved her country. She was a compassionate leader, she was a peacemaker and a bridge builder. She was an influential leader but she was also very humble. She was respectful to all our people. Importantly, she was also an honest leader,” added Ramaphosa.
Mkhize, who was the Deputy Minister for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities in the Presidency, died last week at the age of 69. She was laid to rest in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Mkhize’s daughter Zindzi Mkhize-Vabaza told mourners that her mother had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2017 and that the family was told then that she only had 19 months to live.
“I am still in disbelief that I am speaking about my mother in the past tense.
“In March 2017, our world came tumbling down. That was when my mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.
“We sat in the doctor’s room with my dad and were told she had 19 months live and should step down from her duties. At that time, she had just been appointed Minister of Home Affairs.
“Ever the dedicated servant, mama had asked us to represent her at the doctor’s office as she couldn’t make it due to meetings. Ma’s battle with cancer began with medical oncologists. In her four-and-a-half years of fighting this disease, she somehow managed to balance her busy schedule with chemo sessions every three weeks, sometimes flying to Cape Town on the same day of her chemo,” said Mkhize-Vabaza.
Numerous doctors’ visits, blood tests, scans and radiation became part of Mkhize’s life, but didn’t stop her from continuing with her work in the Presidency, across communities, and as chairperson of the June and Andrew Mlangeni Foundation, her daughter said.
Her husband Pat Mkhize shared anecdotes about his life with the late deputy minister and how they had met when they were students. He said he knew that his wife was never going to stop doing her work after she was diagnosed with cancer.
“As English philosopher Thomas Hobbes said, life is nasty, brutish and short. This is how I later reacted when the outcome of Hlengiwe’s health was shared with me and my daughter in early 2017. The lung specialist said Hlengiwe had lung cancer and, as if that was not enough, the specialist said she is not going to make it beyond this period.
“I thought he said three years, but my daughter understood it to be 19 months. He further went on to say that, as he was one of her family members, he would ask her to step down from government.
“I explicitly told him that was not gonna happen and that we would not suggest such to her, knowing Hlengiwe’s faith in God and her tenacity to serve the people,” he said.
Among those who paid tribute to Mkhize were former anti-apartheid activist Reverend Frank Chikane, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi, and Malose Kekana from the June and Andrew Mlangeni Foundation, where Mkhize was chairperson.