Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

Cosatu in Mpumalanga has described the death of Nomvula Khellinah Shoba as "the passing of a revolutionary heroine".

Shoba, who was a newly sworn-in MP, died shortly after attending the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria on May 9.

"Her passing has taken from the people of South Africa a true servant of the working class and a staunch champion of women's rights. We have lost a person who devoted her entire life to the fight to free her people," said Cosatu provincial secretary Norman Mokoena.

Born in September 1956, Shoba joined the ANC in 1990 and held several positions within the tripartite alliance, including that of secretary and deputy chairperson of the ANC, provincial treasurer of Cosatu in Mpumalanga, and regional treasurer of the National Union of Mineworkers.

The ANC said her death had robbed the organisation of "a militant, committed and true servant of the people.

"The attainment of gender parity and other gains achieved by women since the dawn of democracy were largely brought about through courageous and unwavering struggles waged by women of the calibre of comrade Shoba," the ANC said.

Shoba was the chairperson of the Highveld region of the NUM's women's structure , a member of the SACP, a branch secretary of the ANC Women's League from 2004, and the deputy chairperson of the ANC's ward 24.

Shoba will be buried on Sunday at Machadodorp cemetery.

The service at the local stadium will start at 8am.