NFP leader Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi remembered as trailblazer for women in politics

KaMagwaza-Msibi passed away in an uMhlanga hospital on Monday.

She was 59.

She'd suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

The African National Congress' KwaZulu-Natal chair Sihle Zikalala says they worked together with mutual respect.

"We worked together with great respect, supporting each other and ensuring that our cooperation is anchored on development of the people. We know her even for her role while she was the mayor of Zululand District Municipality.”

KaMagawaza-Msibi also served as the country's Deputy Minister of Science and Technology.

The Inkatha Freedom Party's Narend Singh says she'd been active in politics since the age of 13, when she joined the IFP.

"She was a person who had a lot of foresight, a very quick thinker and her focus was service delivery. We were very sad to lose her as a member of the IFP but I think her role in the NFP has been the most pronounced.

The Democratic Alliance's Siviwe Gwarube said: "We will remember her for her fearlessness and a trailblazer for women in politics. We also commend her for the service to the country as a councilor, a member of parliament, a mayor and a deputy minister“.

Vusi Khoza, who is with the Economic Freedom Fighters in KZN, said "she will be missed the most by her party" since "it was built around her persona."