The North West Provincial Legislature has suffered another loss in the passing on of Honourable Onewang Rebecca Kasienyane at Bophelong Hospital in Mahikeng the morning of Sunday, 21 April 2013. Hon OR Kasienyane passed on after a long battle with cancer. She was born on 7 March 1952.
The late Hon Kasienyane, affectionately known as "Sis Ribs by her friends and comrades, was an accomplished gender activist who dedicated her life to the complete emancipation of women from the triple oppression and exploitation based on gender, class and race in South Africa. "Sis Ribs" had an unblemished record of service to the people of South Africa through her participation in a range government, community and political structures.
Hon Kasienyane was sworn in as a Member of the North West Provincial Legislature on 6 May 2009. At the time of her passing, Hon. Kasienyane was serving in the North West Provincial Legislature as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. She served as a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for the Department of Health and Social Development in North West from 2009 until 2010. Prior to joining the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon Kasienyane was a long serving Member of Parliament. She joined Parliament as a member from 1999 until 2009. She served in the Potfolio Committee of Social Development and Agriculture from 1999 til 2004 and thereafter was appointed Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Labour from 2004 - 2009. Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament was serving the community of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District as a councilor in the then Bophirima District Council from 1995 - 1999. Among some of he accomplishments was to serve as an IEC Monitor during the first democratic election in April 1994.
Hon Kasienyane is a seasoned political activist. She joined the ANC underground activities in 1987 and immediately after the unbanning of the ANC, she helped to rebuild the formal structures of the ANC in the country. She became the Chairperson of the ANC Lokaleng Branch and Deputy Chairperson of ANC Women’s League in the Northern Cape Region in 1993.
"Sis Ribs" was a member of the ANC Provincial Executive Council in the Northern Cape between 1994-1996; and was also ANC Treasurer for the then Bophirima Region in North West province 1996-2001; ANC Women’s League Provincial Executive Committee Member 2001-2004; ANC Women’s League National Executive Committee Member from 2003-2007 also ANC Deputy Chairperson of Bophirima Region 2005-2007. Her recent and last leadership role in the structures of the ANC was to serve as the Provincial Treasurer of the ANC between 2008/09.
True to her commitment to see through to the complete emancipation of women, "Sis Ribs" Hon. Kasienyane was a key catalyst leading to the formation of the Women’s National Coalition and served as its Provincial Coordinator from 1993-1994. Hon Kasienyane has indeed lived to personify the popular adage for women's solidarity and liberation: "YOU STRIKE A WOMAN, U STRIKE A ROCK"
As the North West Provincial Legislature we would like to convey our sincere and deepest condolences to the entire Kasienyane family and her political home, the African National Congress.
May her soul rest in peace.
The details of the memorial and funeral service are as follows:
Memorial Service
Date: 24 April 2013
Venue: NW Legislature Chambers
Time: 10h00am
Burial Service
Date: 27 April 2013
Time: 07h00
Venue: Lokaleng Village, Taung
For more information contact:
Mongezi Tsenca
Cell: 072 632 0880
E-mail: tsencab@nwpl.org.za
