By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a period of mourning for seven days from today in honour of the late founding Speaker of South Africa’s democratic Parliament, Dr Frene Ginwala.
The mourning period starts on Tuesday and will be followed by a national tribute in Johannesburg next Tuesday.
Dr Ginwala, an Esteemed Member of the Order of Luthuli, passed away at her at home in Cape Town on Thursday night at the age of 90, following a stroke two weeks earlier.
“Ramaphosa has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations around the country until the evening of Tuesday, 24 January 2023.
“The Presidency will in the coming days announce details of an official memorial service that will take place in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 24 January. This event will serve as a national tribute to the late Speaker,” the Presidency said in a statement.
Born on 25 April 1932, Dr Ginwala served the anti-apartheid struggle and South Africa’s democratic dispensation in a diversity of roles as a lawyer, academic, political leader, activist and journalist.
In 2005, Dr Ginwala was honoured with the Order of Luthuli in Silver for her excellent contribution to the struggle against gender oppression and her tireless contribution to the struggle for a non-sexist, non-racial, just and democratic South Africa.
She was cremated in a private ceremony at the weekend.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told journalists outside her Sandton home last week the ruling party would hold a series of programmes in honour of Ginwala.
“It was a well-lived life that needs to be celebrated. There is a lot that we, the current generation at the helm of the movement, can learn from the life and times of comrade Frene,” said Mbalula.