Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri mourned

2009-04-07 14:10

Johannesburg - Communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri served the country and the ANC with distinction, the party said on Tuesday.

"We send our heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives and friends. May her soul rest in peace," the African National Congress said in a statement.

Matsepe-Casaburri died of natural causes on Monday night at a Pretoria hospital. She was 71.

Expressing his condolences to her family and friends, President Kgalema Motlanthe said the minister was "an outstanding leader and servant of the people of South Africa.

"In her various leadership capacities and responsibilities, she has served the country with distinction, honour and selflessness," said Motlanthe in a statement.

North West premier Edna Molewa said she was deeply saddened by the passing away of Matsepe-Casaburri.

Molewa said the role played by her in transforming the communications landscape in the country by opening the airwaves to previously disadvantaged communities, would never be forgotten by the people of South Africa.

'Lady of great dignity'

Describing her as the "lady of great dignity", the Democratic Alliance expressed its sadness at her passing and sent condolences to her family and friends.

"She presided over a decade of tumultuous change in communications which spanned the listing of Telkom, the introduction of the Second National Operator, Neotel, and the digitisation of broadcasting, a work still in progress," the DA said in a statement.

The African Christian Democratic Party also sent its condolences to Matsepe-Casaburri's family and friends.

"As the first woman premier in South Africa, Dr Matsepe-Casaburri was a pioneer in this country. We will be praying for her family and friends at this sad time," said president of the ACDP's "Women of Destiny" Lydia Meshoe.

SABC mourns death

The SA Broadcasting Corporation said on Tuesday it mourned the death of the former chairperson of its board.

"This is a great shock; it really came unexpectedly at the time when the SABC was in a process of completing major projects with the minister. Her death is highly regrettable and may her soul rest in peace," acting group CEO Gab Mampone said in a statement.

The broadcaster's spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the minister was the first chair of the SABC board in the new dispensation and later made a comeback as the SABC's main shareholder in the ministry of communications.

"She has made a great contribution during her tenure in the SABC and communications ministry," Kganyago said.

"Matsepe-Casaburri has carried out her responsibility diligently as expected of a leader to steer the organisation in the right direction," SABC board chairperson Khanyisile Mkhonza said.

The public broadcaster offered its condolences and "wholehearted support" to the family.

- SAPA