Ncumisa Nkondlo, a member of the ANC's national executive committee and deputy chairwoman of th SA Communist Party, died in East London on Monday, the ANC said.

Nkondlo was elected to the NEC in December 2007 and also served on the party's National Working Committee. She was ANC caucus chairwoman in Parliament and was an MEC for social development in the Eastern Cape.

Paying tribute, ANC spokeswoman Jessie Duarte said her political career also included student and labour movements."Ncumisa Kondlo was an outstanding cadre, and highly regarded by her comrades and colleagues. Her election to important positions in both the ANC and SACP attests to the confidence that the members of the movement had in her abilities," she said.

"Prominent among a new generation of leaders, Ncumisa Kondlo will be sorely missed," she said.

The ANC's parliamentary caucus said: "Nkondlo will be remembered for (the) outstanding and passionate roles she played towards democracy."

The SACP said Nkondlo had become one of the "most respected women revolutionaries in our party, and she was definitely destined for an even bigger role in our unfolding democracy, in our party, and our broader movement."

The Young Communist League said: "Having just joined the formidable team of the ANC NEC, elected in Polokwane, she was a symbol of the winds of change that were blowing both in the ruling party and in parliament, and a lot was expected from her knowledge and experience."

The Democratic Alliance's Lindiwe Mazibuko commented that although they differed markedly on policy, "We had a very warm personal relationship dating from our time together in the National Council of Provinces. She was an impressive person of quiet dignity, and I shall miss her."