The African National Congress (ANC) has confirmed that its Deputy Secretary General, Yasim ‘Jesse’ Duarte has passed away.
Duarte passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning, the party confirmed. This after she battled with cancer and had been on medical leave since November 2021.
The ANC described Duarte as the pillar of her family. “The ANC expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Duarte, Dangor, and Whitley extended families, loved ones and friends She was both a tower of strength to the organisation as well as a matriarch and pillar of her family.
“The passing of Comrade Jesse is a great loss, not only to the family but to the democratic movement and the country as a whole. As a committed internationalist and former diplomat, not only will she be mourned by South Africa, but by colleagues and comrades on the African continent and in the international progressive movement,” Pule Mabe the National Spokesperson said in a statement.
“She dedicated her entire life to the struggle for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous, and just South Africa. A committed gender activist, she relentlessly championed the emancipation and empowerment of women. Her life and work reflected a consistent commitment to advancing the rights of the poor and marginalised.”
Duarte will be buried on Sunday afternoon in Johannesburg according to Muslim tradition. Duarte was the longest serving member of the ruling party’s national executive council (NEC), having served since 1999 under former president Thabo Mbeki.