5 June 2025
It is with a sad and a heavy heart that I have today to pay tribute to Comrade Lungi Mnganga Gcabashe-intombi ka Shozi as I always referred to her.
She was a lifelong activist, a committed freedom fighter, a leader of the liberation struggle that led from the front and dedicated her life fighting for the upliftment of all our people – (particularly gender parity). As much as she was a seasoned politician and a patriot, Comrade Lungi was a dependable comrade, a caring mother and loving sister.
Comrade Lungi’s life, as she grew up in Kwa-Mashu, was shaped by the harsh conditions of poverty, crime, social upheavals that our people experienced in the township daily struggles for survival. She belonged to the generation of township youths that had to survive township tsotsi’s and the harassment of apartheid police, which was the daily life.
As a youth in Kwa-Mashu township, her life as an activist was born and shaped in the street protests against rising cost of house rents (Asinamali Campaign), unaffordable transport fares and constant harassment by municipal police, special branch police and armed vigilantes.
Her protective instincts as the eldest sister in her family, quickly transformed from caring for her younger siblings to fighting for and protecting the entire community which faced arbitrary detentions without trial, assassinations, declaration of states of emergency and bannings. Many youths had to skip the borders into exile to undergo military training during the eighties.
The ANC had made a call for our people “to make South Africa ungovernable and apartheid unworkable.” The violence in the townships in eThekwini took its toll on our people in the street battles as the activists under the leadership of the United Democratic Front clashed with the Inkatha Freedom Party and the KwaZulu-Police. Amongst the ZP’s, were kitskonstabels, many of whom were units specially trained in Caprivi in Namibia as a killing machine, to foment violence, sponsored by the apartheid government, which was incorrectly referred to as “black-on-black violence”.
Such was the rough life under which Comrade Lungi’s activism and leadership was forged. She was amongst those activists who understood that for us to achieve freedom, many sacrifices had to be made, while expecting no reward in money, or material benefit or positions of authority, power and control. It was risky to be part of the liberation struggle but life in the township offered no other choice except to fight to the end. Leadership demanded courage, selflessness, dedication and commitment to serve. Leadership was not a career with high salary and privileges, it was a service to the people. Leadership was a risk and not fashion. Comrade Lungi stood up to be counted.
When the ANC was unbanned, she was amongst those who had to be assigned the responsibility to mobilize our people, and to create the first branches of the ANC. It was her hard work, dedication and passion for working with people that made her to stand out and be identified later to be employed as one of the few women full time organizers. Her tasks involved organizing for the ANC, the ANC Women’s League and Youth Leagues.
This task compelled her to break into difficult areas and war-torn communities; to attend to, sometimes rescue communities caught in violence that was raging in Kwa-Mashu, Ntuzuma, Lindelani, Inanda, Bhambayi, Umlazi, Malukazi, Folweni, Dassenhoek and many other areas. In that role as organizer, she was often the first one to report on the existence and extent of violence; and be first one to be dispatched into areas known as no-go zones. But she never flinched!
Ever positive and courageous, it was often Comrade Lungi’s appearance that brought hope and courage to communities afflicted by political intolerance and strife. She learned to calm down tempers and support communities, for victims to get the medical attention, or to relocate in cases of violent displacement and work with police to ensure arrests are done and the provision of welfare support.
She was an advocate for peace and political tolerance, teaching our people to respect each other, irrespective of political party affiliation and extending a hand of sisterhood to IFP leaders and urging women to coexist despite the political differences. Her role was that of a community builder and activist for community development, in effect, akin to that of a social worker, whose services were mostly felt by those in distress. Many innocent lives were lost during this time. We remain grateful that her life was spared and she survived all the turbulence.
Her hard work, reliability and her passion for serving people coupled with the depth of her political maturity, despite her young age, soon propelled her into positions of leadership in the ANC Women’s League and the ANC in the province. While her leadership role was respected in the whole of the ANC, it was in the ANCWL where she had made the strongest impact.
Throughout her role as organizer and leader in the ANC, she had to double up her roles with her responsibility as a mother to bring her lovely daughter, Sphe, to the office until the end of meetings before taking her home. It’s always so gratifying to see Sphe as a full grown woman who grew up in front of our eyes. Sphe was the office kid that got used to be greeted by all the aunts and uncles in the struggle, as she wandered in the corridor, curious and bored, waiting for mummy to finish the meeting then go home. Such were the sacrifices of a mother!
When the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal were integrated from three regions to one province, Comrade Lungi was elected in the first Provincial Executive Committee of the ANCWL in 1997. Her passion for fighting for protection of women’s rights and promote gender equality, is legendary. Throughout her career, Comrade Lungi has occupied the positions in the fore front in the fight against abuse of women; leading prominently in the campaign against gender-based violence and femicide. She took up the fight in support of women who were victims of GBV, often mobilizing women to court and into the streets to protest the injustice meted on women. She mobilized in support for access to health and welfare services, provision of clothes and food to those affected by natural and man-made crises. She was also available as a political mentor to younger leaders while offering comforting words and support in social and personal matters, when women needed advice on family and personal issue.
Comrade Lungi encouraged solidarity amongst women, teaching women to stand together against all challenges they faced and she stood as an unapologetic champion of their cause. She believed that the role of the ANC Women’s League extended to all areas and sectors where women are found, irrespective of political party affiliation and membership. This resulted in an approach that encouraged strong relationships with women in different churches, younger women and girls and various civil society formations. There were programmes that cemented peace efforts in collaboration with leadership in the IFP, during the leadership of some prominent leaders such as Mrs Faith Gasa, Eileen KaNkosi Shandu and others.
When she was the Deputy Chairperson of the ANCWL in KwaZulu-Natal, she was thrust into the position of full leadership by virtue of the Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma being frequently abroad on ministerial assignments. Comrade Lungi was forced to personally lead the provincial structure during these challenging times. She accomplished this task with distinction and was subsequently rewarded by being elected as the Provincial Chairperson– a tenure which she led with confidence and accomplished with distinction.
Lungi’s activism and the fulfillment of her assignment was always driven by the desire to change the lives of our people for the better. She used all her positions of deployment to advance issues of women, whether as public representative in the Legislature, or municipal official serving in the Housing Department. She remained a committed servant of our people, displaying love for people and empathy at all times.
Comrade Lungi was a respectful and humble leader who got on well with everybody. However, she was also known as a very assertive person who would never brook injustice in silence. When matters of principle were at stake, she would stand her ground, and debate fearlessly; and with political clarity articulate her point of view, never to give up until she is convinced otherwise or successfully deliver her point. In this regard, Comrade Lungi was known to always be ready to confront anyone in the leadership.
Comrade Lungi has never shied away from fearlessly confronting difficult issues; no matter who is involved. She had a reputation of being frank. Telling you as it is-and if you don’t like it-that’s for you to deal with it! Whereas this characteristic has never changed, her approach has however been maturing with time. Her maturity had evolved into less confrontation but her assertiveness, steadfastness and firmness remained unchanged.
Many in the ANCWL will attest that Comrade Lungi leaves behind a legacy of a strong culture of discipline and upright leadership in the Women’s League. This legacy emphasizes on a focus on building a resilient and confident leadership with a strong character; for women to never doubt the value of their leadership role and to assert themselves within the party and in society. She always strived to bring out the best out of people and ensure each would be a better person after interacting with her. It is the legacy that indicates that strong leadership by women creates healthier, stronger and more balanced communities since women tend to be the majority in society.
I served as the Provincial Chairperson when Comrade Lungi was a member of the PEC and a Chairperson of the ANCWL. Her contributions to the debate and the programme of action of the ANC, always displayed political depth and maturity; and her commitment to the struggle for improving the lives of the majority of our people. She would stand up and challenge ANC leaders where she felt there was any bias on matters of women leadership or women empowerment in general. I can recall a few instances where she would opt for a one-on-one meeting with me, to address matters when she disagreed. There were several such instances, where she would call and ask for an appointment to see me. Such moments you can never forget in a hurry! Those are the moments that deepened my respect for Lungi, the leader and Lungi my sister!
Comrade Lungi had unshakeable love for and loyalty to the African National Congress; and never once contemplated jumping ship even in the most challenging times. Believe you me, she has faced many such a time in her journey. Here Comrade Lungi has a lesson for us to learn. Instead, she has always engaged comrades on what needs to be done to rescue the declining support of the ANC. She remained convinced that the ANC will overcome current challenges and be restored to its glorious state as undisputed leader of society.
She always spoke about how we need to ensure that ANC leaders and structures are grounded amongst our people and that service delivery issues need to be aggressively addressed. As Deputy President of the ANCWL and NEC member, Comrade Lungi still believed in humility and would reflect on the importance of grooming younger leaders on selfless and humble service to our people. Bringing back the approach of making people to be the centre of everything we do; and discourage factional tendencies and participation in the ANC driven by self- interest. Comrade Lungi would say this and reminisce about her own journey as a servant of the people who was assigned responsibilities to serve in positions of leadership. Never to look down upon the people because they are the reason the ANC exist.
Comrade Lungi always carried herself with elegance, looking good and beautiful at all times, whether in her green blouse or neatly trimmed costume. As a lady she was always dignified, exuded warmth and charisma that made her one leadership trait unmistakable-u Mama, a leader with Ubuntu. She respected herself and those around her.
Comrade Lungi will be sorely missed for her warmth and charming smile.
In the sixth parliament, by virtue of proximity of surnames, every time I get into the National Assembly, due to the ever-changing allocation of seats, she would come early identify my seat and then call me, to save me from looking for my name on the seat labels. Since then
it became more convenient for me to just lift my eyes and look for Lungi because next to her I would find my seat. As you all know, you can’t miss Lungi if she is inside the room. The comrades in our row of seats are similarly reminded of her untimely departure each time they walk into the house because her absence is just too visible.
We thank the family for lending her our people to the serve our country and defend our constitutional democracy. May her contributions to society act as comfort for you during your grief.
We convey condolences to her daughter, Sphe, the entire Mnganga and Gcabashe family and friends, the comrades in the ANCWL and ANC and those in society at large whose lives she touched.
My sister, you fought a good fight!
May your soul rest in peace
Hamba kahle Shozi!
Gabhisa!
AMANDLA!!!