7 April 2009

The Inkatha Freedom is saddened at the sudden death in Pretoria of the Minister of Communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, due to ill health. It was our wish for her to be able to enjoy the retirement she sought after so many decades of dedicated party, political and public service. 

Her colleagues in Parliament and public service have known for some time that it was her wish to retire following this month's general elections so as to spend more time with her beloved family and pursue other social issues of interest to her. 

It is therefore nothing short of tragic that this has been denied her and her family. We offer our deepest condolences to her loved ones and her party, the African National Congress. 

Dr Matsepe-Casaburri took over the helm of the Department of Communications at a difficult time when the ICT sector had been totally politically manipulated for specific local and foreign interests by Government and the former Director-General in particular. These actions had far reaching consequences which clearly haunted Dr Matsepe-Casaburri's tenure of office.  The work she faced of slowly liberalising the sector was long and hard and extremely complex. Much was achieved in recent years for which we must give her credit.  

Her commitment to bridging the so-called "digital divide" was all-embracing as was her genuine desire to ensure that South Africans (and especially our learners) could access affordable ICT services. She worked long and hard to achieve these goals and although her work has not been completed she must be given the credit due to her for the achievement of many important legislative and regulatory milestones -- too numerous to mention --  which have provided crucial foundations to enable growth and development throughout the sector. 

Rest in peace, dear Ivy.  You were a woman of consequence:  kind, warm, calm, committed to service, loving and caring.  It was an honour to have known you. 

Contact:
Suzanne Vos
083 303 0451.