Durban -
Duduzile Mchunu, the wife of the MEC of transport in KwaZulu-Natal, Willies Mchunu got a heroine’s send-off on Saturday at a packed funeral service held at the Chesterville Sports Ground.
Her funeral was attended by thousands of mourners, including ANC heavyweights, who came to pay their last respects.
But the service was also used to defend President Jacob Zuma.
While addressing the crowd who braved the cold and rainy weather, the national chairwoman of the ANC, Baleka Mbete, lashed out at the church leaders who did not accept Zuma’s apology after the Constitutional Court ruling, which found that the president failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution as the supreme law of the land.
“But instead they have joined the bandwagon shouting Zuma must fall,” she said.
Mbete asked reverends who were present at the funeral to pray for the men of the cloth who criticised Zuma.
“We do not understand why they cannot find it in their hearts to forgive the president. We all need to pray for them.
“Perhaps we must exchange positions and show them that forgiveness is important,” she said to the thunderous applause by mourners.
She described Duduzile as a phenomenal woman who did not talk much, but her quietness spoke volumes.
She reminisced about her returning from exile to meet Duduzile at her house in eSikhawini near Richards Bay.
“She was very humble. She proved that you do not just open your mouth for the sake of doing it, if you have nothing important to offer. She was a dignified quiet lady with an effective presence,” Mbete said.
She also reminded the crowd that the ANC’s principle was to serve society, not to fight over tenders. She said the ANC did not struggle to jostle for positions once it came to power.
“An alliance should also understand its role to execute its duties of transforming people’s lives who were still on the receiving end.
“The day we undermine each other, would be the day of our downfall as an organisation. We should stop this anger in the organisation, it will destroy us. Let us not betray the work of the founders.”
Paying tribute to his wife, Mchunu welcomed the heavy downpour outside the white tent as a blessing.
“I am choosing to believe that, as we are saying goodbye to my wife, rain is something really good. It is the most needed commodity at the moment,” Mchunu said.
Duduzile will be remembered for taking on the then minister of law and order, Adrian Vlok, to release her husband who was detained during the state of emergency.
Vlok relented and Mchunu was released, in what became a successful test case which resulted in a number of activists being released.
Duduzile who is survived by Willies, and son Zwelisha, was laid to rest at Heroes Acre cemetery in Chesterville.
Sunday Tribune