29 August 2019
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Moses Mabhida Province (KwaZulu-Natal) sends its heartfelt condolences to the Gumede family for the loss of their daughter, Phumzile Gumede. She seized to breathe on the 26 of August 2019, in King George Hospital, after a short illness.
Comrade Phumzile Gumede led in various structures in the mass democratic movement, her activism was renowned within the rank and file of the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA). She served in the YCLSA as a District Executive Committee (DEC) member in the former Durban South, former district treasurer in Magwaza Maphalala, SACP DEC in the former Magwaza Maphalala District, the ANC, ANCYL. At the time of her death she was serving in the Branch Executive Committee of the ANC Women’s League in Ward 86, in Umlazi. As an employee of the eThekwini municipality, she stood against injustices and fought against different forms of exploitation on the shop-floor.
She was a student in MANCOSA pursuing her degree in Human Resources. She understood the depth of knowledge production and venerated science, knowledge and education in every space she occupied. Her death during Women’s month is symbolic to the women who fought against oppression and exploitation; a month for the commemoration of brave women who engaged in a struggle against social ills and different forms of abuses, including the fight against apartheid.
Comrade Phumzile stood firm in confronting perpetrators of wrong-doing without fear, as demonstrated in the eThekwini Workers strike in April/May this year. She was a member of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU). Workers must use her resilience while she was alive as a source of strength and unity and draw them behind one common objective for the entire movement.
In Comrade Phumzile, the SACP lost a member of the Red family. Her efficiency, professionalism and astuteness to Party duties, are skills we will dearly miss without pass.
She leaves behind two children, her mother, siblings and her community.
Official details of her funeral will be communicated to in due course.
Issued by SACP Moses Mabhida Province
For enquiries contact:
Themba Mthembu
Provincial Secretary
Mobile: +2783 303 6988
Nomcebo Msomi
Provincial Media Liaison
Mobile: +2776 969 5897
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY | SACP
FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES ON SACP STATEMENTS CONTACT:
Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo
National Spokesperson & Head of Communications
Mobile: +27 76 316 9816
Skype: MashiloAM
CIRCULATION & MEDIA LIAISON SERVICES
Hlengiwe Nkonyane
Communications Officer: Media Liaison Services, Digital and Social Media Co-ordinator
Mobile: +27 79 384 6550
OFFICE, WEBSITE, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, USTREAM TV CHANNEL
Office: +2711 339 3621/2
Twitter: SACP1921
Website: www.sacp.org.za
Facebook Page: South African Communist Party
Ustream TV Channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sacp-tv
