George Sanzila

Speaker of the National Assembly, professor Peter Katjavivi has hailed the late and former speaker of the Republic of South Africa, Frene Ginwala for her steadfastness.

Katjavivi noted that her efforts have impacted the rest of the SADC parliamentary work. 

Ginwala died at the age of 90 on Thursday, 12 January 2023.

She has written a number of books dealing with various aspects of the struggle against injustice. For her efforts, she has been honoured by international and local institutions and governments. 

After retirement as speaker, she continued serving in a number of international organisations including UN subsidiaries, as trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and as chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Ginwala was appointed the first chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in April 2005. At the time, she was one of only four female university chancellors in South Africa.

In a letter expressing his sympathies on behalf of the Namibian parliament, sent to his South African counterpart, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakulato, Katjavivi noted that Ginwala stood out as a pinnacle of excellence in the work of the legislature. 

“Those of us who interacted with her closely, will attest to her excellence in this undertaking, with absolute dignity and grace,” wrote Katjavivi.

Ginwala was appointed as the first speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa in 1994, when Nelson Mandela was elected as president during a period that marked the end of apartheid to usher in a post-apartheid democratic parliament.