-
President Cyril Ramaphosa attending the funeral service of Dr Tshenuwani Simon Farisani
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the African National Congress (ANC) veteran, Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, as a person who was passionate about speaking for the voiceless.
Ramaphosa is delivering the eulogy at Farisani’s funeral service at the University of Venda.
Farisani was an anti-apartheid activist and the Dean of the Lutheran Church. He served as a member of Parliament, Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, and Transport MEC among other positions.
Ramaphosa says Farisani’s activism continued even after democracy. “When he was released and went into exile to the United States, he could have easily put the entire experience behind him and led a quiet life. Instead, he campaigned vigorously against the Apartheid regime abroad. When Venda was proclaimed a so-called independent homeland by the Apartheid regime, he was one of those who were outspoken in his opposition. Even when this brought him into conflict with church leaders in his circuit. His activism continued into the democratic era.”
Livestream:
‘Father figure’
Earlier, Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba described the late struggle stalwart Dr Farisani as a father figure.
She said Dr Farisani will be remembered as someone who was close to the poor and chose to live among them, adding that the man of the cloth was a staunch SACP member.
