ANC Deputy Secretary General Yasmin “Jessie” Duarte has died at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer on Sunday morning.
The ANC announced and paid tribute to her just after 4am today.
According to Muslim rites, Duarte will be buried this afternoon at Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg.
Her brother, Moosa Dangor, on his social media page wrote: “ Allah Ta’ALA has recalled the greatest woman I’ve known and loved all my life - Yasmin Jessie Duarte farewell our sister”.
The ANC expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Duarte, Dangor, and Whitley extended families, loved ones, and friends
“It is with profound sadness that the ANC has learned of the passing of our Deputy Secretary General, Comrade Yasmin ‘Jessie’ Duarte, during the early morning of Sunday, 17 July 2022. She was both a tower of strength to the organisation as well as a matriarch and pillar of her family,” said ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe.
Duarte was undergoing treatment for cancer, and was on medical leave since November 2021.
“The passing of Comrade Duarte is a great loss, not only to the family, but to the democratic movement and the country as a whole. As a committed internationalist and former diplomat, not only will she be mourned by South Africa, but by colleagues and comrades on the African continent and in the international progressive movement.
“She dedicated her entire life to the struggle for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous, and just South Africa. A committed gender activist, she relentlessly championed the emancipation and empowerment of women. Her life and work reflected a consistent commitment to advancing the rights of the poor and marginalised,” Mane said.
At the time of her passing, Duarte was serving as Deputy Secretary General of the ANC since 2012 and a member of its National Executive Committee since 2002.
Duarte is survived by her children, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family.
Tributes are pouring in from family, friends and colleagues.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has, as a mark of reverence, designated the funeral of struggle stalwart and Ambassador Yasmin "Jessie" Duarte, as a Special Official Funeral Category 2, which will be held on Sunday, 17 July 2022.