Parliament has opened books of condolences for three of its Members who passed away recently - Mr Sicelo Shiceka, former Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Radhakrishna “Roy” Padayachie, Minister of Public Service and Administration and Ms Florence Ntombizodwa Nyanda, Member of Parliament (MP).
A special sitting of the National Assembly will also take place on Friday to consider motions of condolences for Mr Padayachie and Ms Nyanda, both serving Members of the National Assembly (NA) at the time of their deaths.
The National Assembly considered and passed a motion of condolences for Mr Shiceka on 2 May, after which all political parties represented in Parliament paid tribute to him. Mr Shiceka was also a serving MP when he died.
The books of condolences are in the National Assembly foyer for MPs to sign.
Mr Shiceka, who died on 30 April, served Parliament from 2004, first as a member of the National Council of Provinces, where he was Chairperson of the Select Committee on Local Government and Administration from 2004 to 2009, and then as a member of the NA. He was a Member of the Executive Committee responsible for Local Government and Housing in the Gauteng Legislature from 1994 to 1999.
Mr Padayachie was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications in 2004 until 2009 and Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration from 2009 to the end of October 2010. From November 2010 to September 2011 he served as Minister of Communication and from October 2011 as Minister of Public Service and Administration.
Ms Nyanda, who died on 5 May, served in a number of Committees including the Joint Monitoring Committee on the Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons, the Committees on Science and Technology, Correctional Services, Safety and Security, Constitutional Affairs and Local Government and Administration.
Parliament wishes their families peace and strength as they mourn the deaths of their loved ones.
Parliament holds special sitting, opens books of condolences to mark passing of three Members
