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The ANC has learned with sadness the passing on this morning of Sister
Bernard Ncube who was an anti- apartheid and struggle veteran and
champion  of women rights in South Africa. It is an interesting coincidence that
she passed on during a month that honors women, a subject she was passionate
about. Sister Ncube, who studied theology and was a teacher and entered
the Companions Catholic Order, was pivotal in organising women in the 1970s
to the 1980's in Transvaal to form the Federation of Transvaal Women,
Fedtraw, to which she was elected as President in 1984. Like many stalwarts in
her league, she was detained, spent time in solitary confinement and as well
as being charged for sedition and subversion. She served in the leadership
of United Democratic Front, the African National Congress and served in
community structures in Kagiso under the banner of the mass democratic movement.

Sister Bernard continued her activism in the post apartheid period. She
served in the National Assembly where her leadership skills were realized
when she was the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Arts and Culture.

She was an alternate member of the NCOP. She also served as the Mayor of
the Westrand District Council. Despite her religious beliefs she was
pragmatic when it came to public policy options and thus was referred to
as an 'unorthodox' nun. Sister Bernard Ncube spent her adult life at the
service of the people of South Africa. For that, we are eternally
indebted to her and her family. Even in death her stature will loom large as she
has  left us a noble legacy.

To her family we want to say that she lived an accomplished life. Her
life  deserves to be celebrated. The values, beliefs and ideals she held dear
will  continue to guide and define our work as the ANC. As an organisation we
commit ourselves to take her legacy forward. We will continue to liaise
with the family on funeral preparations and memorial service which together
with  the family we will make public after finalization.