Johannesburg - As tributes continue to pour in for the late former political activist Albetina Sisulu, 92, the health sector should thank her family for the contribution she had made to South Africa's health services, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said on Monday.
Motsoaledi led a group of nurses for a prayer service at the Sisulu home in Johannesburg, where she praised Mama Sisulu for her dedication in improving the country's health standards.
Sisulu, a trained nurse and a political activist, was watching television in her house in Johannesburg with her 23-year-old grandson when she died on Thursday.
Government has granted her an official funeral to be held on Saturday at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Visitors have also had an opportunity to write personal messages on the condolence book placed in front of the Sisulu home in Linden.
"We thought we needed to come and highlight her other contributions, particularly in health services because Mama Sisulu was a dedicated health worker who understood what the profession entailed.
"I have brought the nurses here today so they can understand what women like MaSisulu meant to the profession and what she embodied," Motsoaledi said.
Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa also paid her tribute: "People like MaSisulu continued to emulate good values in and outside the ANC and for that, we will forever be grateful for her unwavering contribution to the society in general ... she was one of the first motherly figures of our organisation and has left a legacy that can been witnessed by all of us today," said Molewa.
An official memorial service in Pretoria on Thursday is expected to be attended by scores of people.
