AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
ANC MP Jacqueline Mofokeng has died of COVID-19 complications, 24 hours after her daughter succumbed to the same.
Mofokeng, 62, died at home in Centurion, where she had been in quarantine. Her daughter, Thato, 28, passed away to COVID-19 at a hospital in Pretoria. Mofokeng was a former member of the Gauteng Legislature.
The Mofokeng family has announced that she passed away in her sleep, a week after testing positive for COVID-19. The family pleaded with her relatives, friends and the community not to visit her home in Irene, Pretoria as there are two members of the family who have tested positive. “They want to check who else was in touch with the family so that they can test, quarantine in order to contain the virus. After that they will decide on the way forward in terms of the funeral,” said a friend.
Mofokeng was a leading member of the ANC and the ANC Women’s League in Gauteng. In its tribute, the ANC caucus in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, paid a warm tribute to Mofokeng.
In a statement, the ANC caucus said: “Cde Jacqui is one of the long serving members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, having served as a member for 20 years (1999 – 2019) Cde Jacqui served as Chairperson of Standing Committee on Oversight on the Office of the Premier and Legislature, Chairperson of Community Safety Portfolio committee. She also served in the portfolio committees of Social development, Education and local government. Cde Jacqui served as a Deputy Chief Whip and Chairperson of Women’s Caucus as well as Chairperson of Media and Communication committee at the ANC Caucus.
“When Cde Jacqui assumed the role of Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Subordinate Legislation (CSSL) she understood that the legislature is a site of struggle and should be used to advance transformation and the enactment of progressive legislation to improve the quality of lives of the people. Cde Jacqui has been a trailblazer for many ideas that are now public interest on matters of Women empowerment and the protection of the rights of Women and Children. Cde Jacqui understood that the struggle for national liberation was equally a struggle against sexism and gender oppression.
“Cde Jacqui has a distinguished history in the Anti-Apartheid struggle and had an illustrious political life, she cut her teeth as a youth and gender activist in Tshwane where she served as the Regional Secretary and Chairperson of the ANCWL. She currently serves as PEC Member of the ANCWL in Gauteng, she also served as the Spokesperson of the ANCWL PEC in Gauteng. Cde Jacqui was passionate about youth development as demonstrated by her involvement in various community development initiatives.
“Cde Jacqui served in ANC Regional Executive Committee member in Tshwane and served as the first woman Regional Deputy Chairperson in Tshwane. She also served on the PEC of SANCO Gauteng. The untimely demise of Cde Jacqui and her daughter Thato is a grim reminder that death is always with us and we are still in the battle against the invisible enemy called Covid19. It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to an outstanding patriot, a champion for the marginalized and the downtrodden and the defender of the Women and Children. The ANC Caucus in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature expresses its sincere heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, colleagues of Cde Jacqui and Thato and the entire mass democratic movement especially the ANCWL that Cde Jacqui dearly loved and led.”
This is what Mofokeng wrote on Parliament’s website about her own political career.
“Currently PEC ANCWL position held since 1996 in the Gauteng Province, I served as the Regional Secretary of the ANCWL in Tshwane, Regional Chairperson of ANCWL in Tshwane. I’m currently the Spokesperson of the ANCWL PEC in Gauteng.
I served at the ANC Regional Executive and served as the first woman Regional Deputy Chairperson in Tshwane. Currently I serve as BEC member of ANC Branch. I served as the PEC of SANCO Gauteng. I served at the Bronkhorstspruit ANC BEC as Secretary and Chairperson of the ANCWL.
“I’m from a class of 1996 youth uprising in my township Atteridgeville. I served at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for the past 20 years, 1999 to 2019. I served Inn the a portfolio committees of Local Government, Social Development, and education. I served as Chairperson of Standing Committee on Oversight on the Office of the Premier and Legislature, chairperson of Community Safety Portfolio committee. I served as Deputy Chief Whip and Chairperson of the standing committee on Scrutiny of Subordinate
Legislation, chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. I served as a member of Political Office Bearers Pension Fund. I represented my party ANC on the overseas and travel extensively to promote my organisation and the policies. I served the following committees as Deputy Chief Whip; Rules Committee, Members Affairs,Human Resources Committee and Chairperson of Women’s Caucus as well as Chairperson of Media and Communication committee at the ANC Caucus. “
On her goals and ambitions for South Africa, Mofokeng wrote:
“I wish to continue in the emancipation of Women and children.
I wish to advance the fight for a just society and change our Justice system. I wish to continue in the Development of the Young people academically and Economically. To improve Education and Carèer Guidance is a challenge and school of Grooming young girls and boys. As a member of Parliament I need to advance my work with Communities, Women in Court matters, I managed to assist many as an MPL and my Paralegal Studies training helped in assisting our women and children. I’m one of the 100 women given an award as Women of Fortitude 2018 and its lead by Minister (Jeff) Radebe. We need to work more with citizens and do our oversight without fear or favour”
Mofokeng’s friends, fellow politicians have taken to social media to pay their tributes to her.
