President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed great sadness at the news of the passing of struggle stalwart Dr Frene Ginwala.

The 90-year old member of the Order of Luthuli, is known to many for her role as the first democratic Speaker of the National Assembly between 1994 and 2004.

“Among the many roles she adopted in the course of a life she led to the full, we are duty-bound to recall her establishment of our democratic Parliament which exercised the task of undoing decades-old apartheid legislation and fashioning the legislative foundations of the free and democratic South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.

Democratic Alliance (DA) chief whip Siviwe Gwarube focused on Ginwala’s role in a Parliament that repealed many pieces of apartheid legislation and was one of the contributors to, and drafters of, the Constitution.

She said Ginwala’s legacy demonstrated what a strong and independent Parliament can do in bettering the lives of South Africans.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba added that Ginwala served the country with excellence as the first democratic Speaker and he pointed out that she commanded respect among Members of Parliament and South Africans during her time as a public servant.

“South Africa would do well to remember people like Dr Ginwala who led with dignity and integrity. Her exemplary dedication to serving her country,” he added.

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) said Ginwala, who was an African National Congress (ANC) stalwart, was a great constitutionalist and champion for gender equality and rights for women.

Casac executive secretary Lawson Naidoo said she provided sage advice and unequivocal encouragement at the time of the council’s establishment in 2010.

He said Ginwala will be remembered as a lifelong activist for social justice, human rights and the rule of law and as a person who made an immense contribution to the struggle for freedom in South Africa.