Dwane
5 July 2006
Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore has expressed sadness at the
untimely and tragic death of one of the Western Cape Education Department's
(WCED) senior officials, describing it as a "tragedy of immense
proportions."
Mrs Ntombezintlanu Dwane, Chief Education Specialist for Institutional
Management and Governance in the Metropole East education district, Kuils River
and her husband were both killed in a car crash near King William's Town over
the weekend.
She has been in the employ of education her whole working life and for the
last ten years as a senior official in the WCED, having started as area manager
in 1996. All circuit managers in the area reported to her.
As a senior official she was responsible for the management and governance
of 260 schools in the areas of Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain, Eerste River and
the Blue Downs area.
She had to convene school governing body meetings after hours as most
members were working and she worked tirelessly, bringing stability to the
schools.
When she worked in the communities she acknowledged the importance of
working through community structures. She would never make a decision without
the involvement of the communities.
Mrs Dwane obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a University Education
Diploma at the University of Fort Hare. She held a teaching post at Cicira
Secondary School and married Dr Sigqibo Dwane in 1967. She later obtained a BA
honours degree from the University of London in 1978.
After acquiring extensive teaching experience in the Eastern Cape and
KwaZulu-Natal, she held the post of principal at Nombulelo Senior Secondary in
Grahamstown where a matric pass rate of 95 percent was achieved under her
leadership. Before being promoted to her present position in the Western Cape,
she was manager of the Grahamstown area office from 1992 to 1995.
Bishop Siqibo and Mrs Dwane are survived by their four children Phumla,
Vuyokazi, Zinzumzi and Ntabozuko and three grandchildren Aisha, Duma and
Thantasiwe.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, 8 July 2006, from 10h00 in
Stutterheim, Exholorha in the Eastern Cape.
"Sisâ Ntombi Dwane was an institution in the WCED, a woman of substance and
determination. Her work in the district office showed a deep commitment to
community participation in education delivery,â said MEC Dugmore.
"She played a pioneering role in bringing about the Khayelitsha Education
Forum. My last conversation with her was about the need to support this forum
as well as the need to transform the WCED into a representative organisation,
fundamentally committed to service delivery and quality education.
"She has devoted her whole life to education and still had a huge
contribution to make. Although she was about to retire I have no doubt that she
was not the kind of person who could easily sit still.
"We will miss her wisdom, direct approach and institutional memory. We will
organise an event in her honour in the new term. My condolences to her family,
colleagues and many friends. Hamba kahle qabane."
The following arrangements have been made:
1. A prayer meeting will be held at the Education District Offices (EMDC):
Metropole East (Room H3) on Thursday, 6 July 2006, at 09h00.
2. A memorial service for Mrs Dwane will be held in the Sports Hall at EMDC:
Metropole East on Friday, 21 July 2006, at 13h00.
The education management and development centre wishes to express its
sincere condolences to Mrs Dwane's family, friends and colleagues.
For enquiries contact:
Gert Witbooi
Cell: 082 550 3938
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
5 July 2006
