Lesufi hails Gertrude Shope as a global leader

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has remembered late ANC stalwart Gertrude Shope as a global leader and says even though her funeral has been declared a Special Official Category One funeral, the honour goes beyond.

This comes as Mme Shope’s funeral is being held today at the Great Hall at Wits University.

Lesufi says Shope was a bridge between the liberation movement and government and was at the forefront of shaping policy positions.

Gertrude Shope | Panyaza Lesufi says Shope advanced the ANC in various constituencies:

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the eulogy at Shope’s funeral. She will be laid to rest at the West Park cemetery today

Special Official Funeral Service of ANC stalwart Gertrude Shope:

ANC First Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane says Shope’s death marks the end of an era.

A valediction ceremony was held at the Shope family home in Centurion this morning.

Mokonyane reflected on the impact of the late struggle stalwart: “Some of us were quite young when we first heard of them, when we sang of them, when we wished that they were with us in the trenches, when we met them, going in and out of the country to be lived by them, and when they helped us to rebuild the ANC and make the ANC an organisation that today has 50% gender parity, that has a commission that looks at gender, and the ANC that has now been able to contribute towards the constitution that has got a bill of rights enshrined in it. It is women like Ma-shope, internationalists and women who love Africa who wanted to fight against poverty, inequality, and unemployment.”

Gertrude Shope | Nomvula Mokonyane pays tribute to Mme Shope: