DAPHNEY KUNENE WAS AN AFFECTIONATE AND VERY BRAVE LEADER

SANCO members at the memorial service of the late Daphney Kunene photo by Dimakatso Modipa

The late South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO) leader Daphney Kunene was hailed as an affectionate and brave leader who passionately served her community with utter dedication.

This was revealed at a memorial service held in her honour at the Mamelodi Community Hall in Mamelodi West on Thursday.

Former SANCO national Spokesperson Thamsanqa Khenkhe told Tshwane Talks that he started working with Daphney Kunene many years ago and that the job opportunity offered to her by the Gauteng Department of Transport late in her life really lifted her spirits and also uplifted her psychologically as she was ill at the time.

“As a result of getting the job, she could now afford eating healthy food and also have access to medical aid,” said Khenkhe.

“Daphney Kunene had previously been bitter about the treatment that she had received from the people that she had worked with in the structures of SANCO and those of the ANC, but we thank God for her life,” said Khenkhe, adding in the process that Daphney Kunene was a brave person who encouraged those that he worked with never to be afraid of anyone, be they rich or powerful.

Sizwe Tsiane told the mourners that he was able to lead the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) at national level due to the support he received from Kunene.

“I can tell you for free that it is Madeph (Daphney Kunene) who made sure that we had petrol to travel to and from Joburg all the time,” he said.

“Madeph was diagnosed with kidney failure nine years ago and in 2017 she underwent surgery which led to her being in and out of hospital since that year; had a dialisis pipe and though many may say she was uneducated and arrogant, I can tell you that Madeph loved people arrogantly and even when she fought she did so arrogantly,” he said.

SANCO Greater Tshwane Regional Executive Committee member Obed Mongake told Tshwane Talks that Daphney Kunene was secretary of SANCO’s Mamelodi branch.

“Daphney Kunene was an affectionate, selfless leader who by virtue of being secretary of Mamelodi SANCO branch she was by extension a member of the Greater Tshwane SANCO Regional Executive Committee,” he said.

“The Mamelodi Community Hall where we are gathered here today for her memorial is a very significant venue because this is where Daphney Kunene conducted many functions and programmes for SANCO in her lifetime,” said Mongake.

“As SANCO we deal with bread and butter issues and Mamelodi was privileged to have a leader like her as she would always rush to the aid of those who were in distress and would also make sure that the City of Tshwane gave funeral assistance to indigent families, and she always encouraged SANCO leaders to hold all Ward Councillors accountable for their actions,” he said.

Daphney Kunene’s younger brother Jabu Kunene told Tshwane Talks that her sister’s passing was untimely and as family they were taken by surprise because she looked fine when she was discharged from hospital last week Thursday, but in the early hours of Friday morning she passed on after falling to the floor.

“My sister was a real Comrade dedicated to the struggle of the black people and she participated in many structures like those of the ANC, SANCO and SACP and she spent more time with these organisations than she did with her family,” explained Jabu Kunene.

“We lost her a long time ago at a young age to the struggle for liberation in South Africa and we are consoled that she is now resting as she had been living in pain for over ten years now,” he said.

He said though her sister Daphney Kunene was not married and didn’t have children of her own, she groomed many young people in the field of politics and in a way actually adopted them as her own children.

He thanked SANCO for their support during this time of their bereavement and revealed that her sister loved SANCO very much; that it was her wish that the organisation would prosper and be resuscitated to deliver on its mandate to serve the people of South Africa.

Daphney Kunene would have been 61 years old on June 25 this year.