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FILE: Human rights activist, Dr. Tshenuwani Farisani.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, the renowned theologian, freedom fighter, and human rights activist, who passed away at 76 following an illness.
Dr Farisani was an African National Congress (ANC) MP, Limpopo Government Department’s MEC, and Speaker of the legislature between 1994 and 2009.
Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to Farisani’s family, friends and comrades.
The President says Farisani conveyed love for humanity and fearlessly fought for freedom.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of theologian, former Member of Parliament and former Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, Dr Tshenuwani Simon Farisani.https://t.co/EKDMNoqrhn#GovZAUpdates
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 30, 2025
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba describes his death as a loss to the country, saying Farisani was a father figure.
“A very sad day for us, as the Provincial Government, we are deeply pained by the loss of a towering figure. Dr. Dean Tshenuwani Farisani to us was just more than a political leader, he was indeed a moral compass, a man of faith whose courage has helped shape a democratic landscape of our country, a father to many of us.”
Biography
Farisani was the co-founder of Black Evangelic Youth Organisation in 1970 and a Lutheran church priest who fought apartheid from the pulpit.
He was arrested for his activism in the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) and the Black People’s Convention and was a close associate of the movement’s leader, Steve Biko.
