The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has learnt, with great shock and sadness, about the passing on of King Cetshwayo District Municipality Mayor and former SADTU Vice President for Gender, Nonhle Mkhulisi.  Cde Mkhulisi died of COVID 19 related illness on Wednesday, 3 February.

Cde Mkhulisi was a leader of note who cut her political teeth in SADTU. She rose through the ranks from branch to national level; she led the SADTU Melmoth branch as the Deputy Secretary and later, Deputy Chairperson. In 2006, at the Union’s 6th National Congress, Cde Mkhulisi was elected as Vice President for Gender, a position she held until 2009 when she was deployed to the National Assembly as a member of parliament for the African National Congress (ANC).

As Vice President for Gender she played a key role in pushing for gender equity in SADTU. She was one of those who advocated for a 50/50 gender representation within the Union. During her tenure as Vice President, SADTU launched one of her most successful programmes – the Prevention Palliative Care for Teachers, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (PPCT-OVC) in response to the spread of HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases. Further, the programme also supported orphaned and vulnerable children. Thousands of members and the orphaned were assisted through the PPCT-OVC.

Cde Mkhulisi will forever be remembered in SADTU as a humble, hard-working and caring leader who never treated herself as superior to the members she led.

SADTU extends her deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Mkhulisi family, the ANC and all the residents of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality.

ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat

CONTACT:

General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke: 082 783 2968

Deputy General Secretary, Nkosana Dolopi: 082 709 5651

Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi: 082 7195157