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Mbeki pays tribute to Eleanor Kasrils

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Nov 09 2009 07:42

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Former president Thabo Mbeki on Monday conveyed his condolences to the family of ex-intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils whose
wife, Eleanor, died at the weekend.

"Mr Mbeki, who spoke to Mr Kasrils immediately upon learning of the tragic news, recalled Mrs Kasrils' role in the struggle against apartheid and her steadfast commitment to the building of a non-racial, non sexist and democratic South Africa post-1994," Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga said in a statement.

The Independent Online website reported that she died aged 73 on Sunday after suffering a stroke.

It quoted Ronnie Kasrils as saying she collapsed at
Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic in Cape Town.

The couple would have celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary next month -- the "most wonderful, happy marriage", he said, adding
that she did "some fantastic things" in her political work.

Mbeki said: "Comrade Eleanor's passing is not only tragic for Comrade Ronnie and his family. It is a tragedy for all of us who fought for freedom side by side with her.

"Sadly, yet another combatant in the noble army of freedom fighters has fallen."

Eleanor Kasrils was born in 1936 and joined the Congress of Democrats in 1960 after the Sharpeville massacre.

She participated in Umkhonto we Sizwe activities in Durban and was arrested in 1963 and went into exile with Ronnie Kasrils in the same year after escaping from custody.

CONTINUES BELOW

She did work for the African National Congress in Tanzania and Britain and worked for the late ANC President Oliver Tambo from 1990 until his death in 1993 when she returned to South Africa.

Eleanor is survived by her husband, daughter Bridgette and sons Andrew and Christopher. - Sapa

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Comments

Robala kakgotso....

Comrade Eleanor!

GONONDER OMKHULU on November 9, 2009, 9:06 am

Shalom, cde Ronnie Kasrils, Bridgitte, Andrew, Christopher and all family. Find solace in the certainty that she did her best and gave her best for the good of all mankind. Perhaps the world is better than she found it.

Gauta Komane on November 9, 2009, 9:17 am

I salute her courage. She did what many of us were too scared to do.

pete ess on November 9, 2009, 11:09 am

She escaped prison to make my life better.....salute to her...especially since probably half her friends disowned her for what she stood for. Exceptional human being

Johncarlos Biza on November 9, 2009, 11:39 am

Hamba kahle mkonto.

Billy Hill on November 9, 2009, 1:24 pm

Mbeki who???? Is this oke still breathing our good fresh air???

Apocalypse Now on November 9, 2009, 3:09 pm

@ Apocalypse Now
Mbeki who?
Mbeki Thabo!

Of coz he is...if you can, why can't he?

So give the man a bryk bro & get a life!

Yha!

GONONDER OMKHULU on November 10, 2009, 11:49 am

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Mbeki pays tribute to Eleanor Kasrils

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