Ms Tarnia Elena Baker (10 September 1968 – 06 October 2017) was known as a fighter among her colleagues, a reputation shared by both her fellow Members of Parliament in the Democratic Alliance and on the opposition benches. But to the Members of the Democratic Alliance, Ms Baker was more than just a colleague, she was family. These were the words of the leader of the Democratic Alliance, Mr Mmusi Maimane, as he addressed the Baker family at the funeral service for Ms Baker held yesterday at the St Anne’s Catholic Church, Sydenham in Durban.
In describing Ms Baker, Mr Maimane said: “Tarnia would bang on my door, no matter what other urgent issues there might be needing attention, but she would say, ‘I need to speak to you about water problems’.” This was how seriously she took her duties as the Democratic Alliance’s Deputy Shadow Minister on Water and Sanitation and how passionately she served on the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation.
Mr Maimane also spoke of Ms Baker’s deep passion and graciousness, and the concern she displayed for other issues not related to her Portfolio Committee but which affect the people of South Africa. Her holidays were often not her own, as she many times used them as an opportunity to investigate things which concerned her, saying “I have to go see for myself”.
In an interview with the People’s Assembly website www.pa.org.za/blog/ms-tarnia-baker-da, Ms Baker shared her belief that South Africans are stronger united. As she said in the interview: “There is so much more that unites us than divides us. We should not allow all the negative influences to tear us apart as a nation, and sow seeds of division within our people ... South Africa is definitely worth fighting for…”
Ms Baker’s positive contribution to the lives of all South Africans was a common thread running through the funeral service tributes. She joined the Democratic Alliance in 2010 and became a Member of Parliament in 2014, making significant strides in addressing and challenging the issues affecting South African communities.
“It is not the duration of your life that matters, but your contribution to the world,” said Mr Maimane, and certainly Ms Baker made a huge contribution. In her short political career, Ms Baker not only became the shadow minister on water and sanitation, but she was also head of the Govan Mbeki and Lekwa constituency in Mpumalanga.
Members in the Democratic Alliance said that Ms Baker always encouraged people to never give up, to strive to always improve and never be selfish. Even to the last moments of her life Ms Baker was busy with work she was passionate about.
While she was known as a fighter, Ms Baker was also well known for her ability to bring calmness to any room. “As a party, we have certainly lost one of our bravest and brightest stars. Long live the spirit of Tarnia Baker, long live,” Mr Maimane said as he concluded his heartfelt tribute to Ms Baker.
Felicia Lombard
13 October 2017
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