Members of the National Assembly paid tribute yesterday to National Freedom Party Member of Parliament Mr Mzwakhe Sibisi, who passed away recently after a short illness at the age of 50. Speaker after speaker admired his resolve in rising above party politics in the interests of a better South Africa for all and sent their heartfelt condolences to his grieving family.
The leader of the National Freedom Party, Mr Ahmed Shaik Emam, reminded MPs gathered yesterday about Mr Sibisi’s passion for education and his calling to serve, which prompted him to enter politics and become an MP in 2019. “Mr Sibisi studied for the Bachelor of Education and went on to become a principal before joining the National Freedom Party in 2002,” he explained.
Mr Emam remembered Mr Sibisi as a dedicated MP who was committed to his constituency and to all the people of South Africa. He was also a caring father, who looked after both his immediate family and his other relatives. Mr Emam called on Mr Sibisi’s children to follow in his footsteps, “to ensure that his legacy lives on”.
The Democratic Alliance’s Dr Mimmy Gondwe affirmed Mr Sibisi’s commitment to service by reminding her audience that even when Mr Sibisi was about to be admitted to hospital, he took time to WhatsApp his fellow members of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration to inform them he would not be able to join the committee due to his imminent admission to hospital. “His apology is testament of his character. We indeed felt his absence and his keen participation in committee deliberations,” she affirmed.
Ms Rosina Komane (Economic Freedom Fighters) remembered Mr Sibisi’s love for his family, which was evident for all his colleagues to see. “He was a husband, a father, a brother who loved his family so much that he would stop at nothing to protect it,” she said.
These characteristics were further celebrated by the Freedom Front Plus’s Ms Heloise Denner. She remembered Mr Sibisi as always being polite and kind to others. He was also soft spoken and respectable. “He left a positive impression on me as a human being and a colleague. May his soul rest in peace,” she said.
The Inkatha Freedom Party’s Mr Nsikayezwe Cebekhulu remembered Mr Sibisi for his patriotism and willingness to serve the people. He recalled Mr Sibisi as being wholly dedicated to his cause and to the South African people.
Ms Marie Sukers of the African Christian Democratic Party turned to the scriptures to ease the grief of Mr Sibisi’s family members. “May you receive grace as you travel this road of loss and grief. And there’s only one solace; it’s Christ. He should remain your cornerstone that will keep you firm during this storm,” she urged.
His family also heard from Ms Thandiswa Marawu (African Transformation Movement) that they may have lost a father and a brother, but Parliament has lost a soldier and a resolute leader, a man who loved his family as he loved the people of this country. “To the family, your loss is our loss as well,” Ms Marawu said.
This sentiment was echoed by Ms Teliswa Mgweba of the African National Congress, who concluding proceedings by saying, “We today pay our respect to a patriot. Our political differences didn’t make him an enemy. As an opposition, he would differ from a given political position with politeness.” This was because Mr Sibisi understood that political parties may have ideological differences, but the issues South Africans face are “material”, Ms Mgweba explained, and require people to rise above party political ideologies.
Abel Mputing
8 November 2023
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