President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep unhappiness on the passing of Prof Sibusiso Bengu, the democratic South Africa’s first Minister of Training, who has handed away on the age of 90.
President Ramaphosa affords his condolences to the household and buddies of Prof Bengu, who additionally served as South Africa’s ambassador to Germany from 1999 to 2003.
President Ramaphosa stated: “My ideas are with Mama Funeka and the household with whom we’re united on this loss.
“Prof Bengu was a pioneering chief of our democratic dispensation and administration who led the transformation of training in a democratic Authorities of Nationwide Unity the place deep divisions existed about how far this transformation ought to go.
“Underneath apartheid, the injustice of unequal training had been on the core of consigning most residents to intergenerational financial exclusion, poverty and indignity.
“The Training Act formulated below Prof Bengu’s management and adopted by our fledgling Parliament was a cornerstone of our liberation and unleashed the human potential of all South Africans. It was and remains to be the lever for the empowerment and improvement we see right now within the lives of people and communities.
“We’re subsequently indebted to Prof Bengu for his patriotic and visionary service in serving our nation at residence and overseas as our Ambassador to Germany.
“His legacy is entrenched by way of the Sibusiso Bengu Growth Programme which seeks to advance the event of traditionally deprived establishments in increased training as sturdy, socially embedded establishments in a diversified post-school training and coaching system.
“At present we’re grateful for Prof Bengu’s various contributions to our improvement, which is able to mild our method ahead. We mirror as nicely on his life of religion which impressed his dedication to restoring the dignity of all South Africans.
“Could his soul relaxation in peace.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.