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Minister Dlamini Zuma's Mother Passes Away Pretoria -
It is with a great sense of sorrow and sadness that the Foreign Ministry joins
the family of Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in mourning the loss of Mrs
Rose Dlamini the mother of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced Deputy Minister
Sue Van der Merwe. Ma-Dlamini, 75, passed away on Friday 13 May 2005 in Pretoria
where she was living with Minister Dlamini Zuma. As one African writer once
noted "Death has tolled its unwelcome bell at the door of the Dlamini and
Zuma families and thus robbed them of a pillar of strength and inspiration"
said Deputy Minister Sue Van der Merwe. "We can only imagine the pain
and hurt that the unwelcome bell brought to bear on the entire Dlamini and Zuma
families. Those of us who have also had their lives touched by our beloved Ma-Dlamini
during her short stint in Pretoria, can today bear testimony to her humility,
ubuntu and warmth. "Accordingly, Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad and myself,
the Director-General, Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba and staff of the Department of Foreign
Affairs at home and beyond, share in your sorrow and grief for your mother and
grandmother, Gogo, Ma-Dlamini" continued Deputy Minister Van der Merwe. "Yet
we hope you will continue to draw strength and inspiration from the words of the
poet John Donne who wrote:
"Death do not be proud "Though some
have called thee mighty and dreadful
"But thou art not so
"Nor
yet canst thou kill…
"And death shall be no more
"Death thou
shalt die" "Consequently, we join President Thabo Mbeki, the government
and people of South Africa in extending our heartfelt condolences to Minister
Dlamini Zuma and her siblings, Mondli, Nomusa, Sibusiso, Hlobisile, the grandchildren,
the great-grandchildren and the broader Dlamini and Zuma families during this
hour of need," concluded Deputy Minister Van der Merwe. Minister Dlamini
Zuma returned to South Africa from Ethiopia in the early hours of Saturday 14
May 2005 to be with her family. Funeral details will be announced during the course
of next week, following consultations with the family. Lala Ngoxolo Dlamini Dlangamandla
lokothwayo! Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Department of Foreign
Affairs
P/Bag X152, Pretoria, 0001
15 May 2005
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