Country mourns Mme Lydia Komape-Ngwenya’s passing
Tsimanyane
Condolences are continuing to pour from different parts of the country following the passing of Mme Lydia Komape-Ngwenya, who was a stalwart in the fight against apartheid.
Ngwenya-Komape, from Ga-Matlala Village in Tsimanyane, Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (EPMLM), died at the age of 88 years on 11 October 2023 after a short illness.
Born on 6 August 1935, Komape-Ngwenya was a South African politician, activist and trade unionist who represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly from 1994 to 2009 then moved to Limpopo Provincial Legislature until she retired in 2019.
Around Ephraim Mogale and in some parts of Moutse in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality (EMLM), the struggle veteran will be remembered as a pioneering champion force and founder of the Rural Movement of South Africa, who dedicated her life to empowering rural women in Moutse, Limpopo and across the nation.
She is described as a visionary who co-founded the Moutse Community Radio Station (MCRS), recognizing the power of information and communication in empowering her community.
“Through the airwaves, she amplified the voices and stories of those in Moutse, providing a platform for dialogue, education and empowerment. She stood at the forefront of the fight against forced incorporation of Moutse into the former Homeland of Kwandebele, recognizing the importance of preserving the autonomy and identity of her community,” said one Komape-Ngwenya’s friends Mabilo Nkadimeng.
The ANC has joined millions of South Africans and the community of Ephraim Mogale in mourning the passing of Komape-Ngwenya.
ANC National Spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, described Komape-Ngwenya as a mother, community activist and a philanthropist who lived and shared the plight of the community especially the poor, women, children and people living with disabilities.
“Mme Komape-Ngwenya was a rare breed of humanity whose deeds epitomized Ubuntu and a caring society where no one should live in inhuman condition,” she said.
Bhengu-Motsiri added that the ANC has lost a mother, a teacher and a leader in Mme Komape-Ngwenya.
“She has been an outstanding leader in her political life and played a significant role in a transition which secured our freedom in 1994 and our democratic dispensation,” she said.
Bhengu-Motsiri said the party has expressed its deepest sympathy to the Komape-Ngwenya family, comrades and friends.
“The greatest honor we can bestow on this humble giant is to emulate her generous deeds of community development and selflessness. May her soul rest in peace,” she said.