The African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape joins the broader community of Buffalo City Metro and the Province at large from all walks of life in paying tribute to the late Deputy Executive Mayor and PEC member, Cde Zoliswa Patience Matana who passed on today in hospital after succumbing to Covid-19.
Comrade Matana’s political activism started while working on the shop floor of the West Bank company where she was recruited to join the South African Allied Workers Union (SAAWU ).Her militancy and consistency to fight for workers interests led to her retrenchment but she was later offered a job as SAAWU administrator. Cde Matana endured the brutality of the apartheid regime when she was was first detained at Fleet Street police station under section 50 where she was kept for 14 day experiencing beatings and interrogation from security branch. She was detained again on the 12 June 1986 under the state of emergency and incarcerated for three (3)months at Nomalaphu female prison in East London.
She served Buffalo City Metro Municipality and the ANC in various capacities with diligence, sacrifice and hard work. Comrade Matana was first deployed by the ANC as the MMC of Infrastructure in 2011 , Council Speaker in March 2016 and Deputy Executive Mayor after the 2016 local government elections, responsible to provide political championing and guidance of the entire process of IDP Development, Review, Consultation with Stakeholders and social partners. She was also responsible for political management of the Inter-Governmental Relations (IGR) Function to ensure that BCMM IDP processes are enhanced through a well-coordinated and structured Inter-Governmental Planning platforms that involve BCMM social partners and stakeholders ranging from Provincial Sector Departments and National Departments that have a footprint in the BCMM. Comrade Matana recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration at University of Fort Hare in July this year.
In 2017, she was elected to serve in the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC and served with distinction in various committees such as the Provincial Deployment Committee, Legislature & Governance and Economic Transformation Subcommittee until her passing. Comrade Matana also served as the District Treasurer of the SACP Skenjana Roji District. We salute the spirit of this Mbokodo who showed dedication in serving people of Buffalo City Metro with zeal and commitment. She never waivered in her commitment to the upliftment of our people and to the protection of their rights. All of us we must draw lessons from the life of our departed leader and comrade, wholly embracing the concept of cadreship and of putting the interests of the collective above those of the individual.
As we mourn the passing of this seasoned and grounded leader of our movement, we take solace in the purposeful and exemplary life that she led. We pray that the Almighty God grants the Matana family patience and strength to deal with this huge loss.
Our hearts pour out to the entire Matana family, relatives, friends and colleagues in the Buffalo City Metro Council during this difficult time. We have lost a true political leader, principled and unshakable human being.
Farewell Sbewu, Miya, Gcwanini, Sijekula, Salakulandelwa
ISSUED BY THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, CDE LULAMA NGCUKAYITOBI
Enquiries :
Cde Loyiso Magqashela
ANC PEC Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile No :0762479845
Gift Ngqondi
Provincial Head of Communications
Mobile No :0849519924 /0848439706
