Late African National Congress NEC member Violet Siwela will be laid to rest on Saturday morning at Dowersloop Stadium in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
Mr Siwela, who was chairman of Parliament's Powers and Privileges Committee, passed away a week ago while in hospital.
Siwela had been in and out of the hospital for the past three weeks and passed away on Thursday after undergoing surgery.
She entered Parliament in 2019 and held various portfolios, including chairing the Small Business Development Portfolio Committee.
In the video below, the ANC pays tribute to Violet Siwela.
Condolences for Siwela continue to pour in.
ANC Secretary-General Pemmy Majodina said Mr Siwela would be remembered for his passion for his work.
“Mama Siwela was someone you could count on 24 hours a day. She was a workaholic, understood the role of Congress, respected the Constitution, and respected the timeline for passing legislation. She was especially knowledgeable about how Congress works. We took in a new member who didn't know who she was. She was a remarkable woman.”
Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Stella Ndabeni Abrahams, said Siwela’s contribution to small and medium enterprises is great.
“We remember her great achievements. This Portfolio Committee succeeded in passing the Small and Medium Enterprises Amendment Bill for the first time in 10 years, as this will change the way the entrepreneurial ecosystem works. It's a bill that everyone is looking forward to. It establishes the structure.”
Siwela's political career was marked by important roles and contributions to Mpumalanga and the nation as a whole. She previously served as Her MEC for Human Settlements and then as Her MEC for Agriculture. Additionally, she served as the provincial speaker of the Mpumalanga provincial assembly, transitioning to parliament in 2018 under the government of former prime minister and former vice president David Mabuza.
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and National Council of Provinces President Amos Masondo praised Siwela as a passionate lawmaker who was committed to the emancipation of the majority of poor South Africans. Mr Siwela last appeared in parliament on Monday this week, updating committee members on his health.
Mr Mapisa Nqakula and Mr Masondo expressed their deep sadness over Mr Siwela's untimely death.
Mapisa-Nqakula and Masondo described Siwela as someone who was passionate about the economic emancipation of South Africa's previously marginalized majority.
Among the dignitaries expected to attend Mr Siwela's funeral is Vice President Paul Mashatil, along with other senior government officials.