Former ANC’s Luthuli House general manager Ignatius Jacobs has died following a three year battle with cancer.
The 56-year-old Jacobs was an underground operative of the ANC armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.
Jacobs, who was born on July 31 in 1963, was an activist of the United Democratic Front affiliated to Azapo student wing, Azaso.
He also served in the ANC Youth League and in both the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) in Gauteng.
In the Gauteng Legislature, he served as the MEC for Education, Social Development, as well as Transport.
The AN’s spokesperson Pule Mabe said in a statement that his contribution was worthy of emulation by young people.
“The people of our country will treasure his memory as one of our most distinguished sons, who consciously chose to fight a cruel and inhumane system at a time when it was extremely dangerous to do so,” said Mabe.
“Even up to his last day, he placed his life and service in the hands of the ANC and the people of his country. Death has robbed the people of South Africa of one of its finest sons, who valued the freedom of his people more than his own life and personal comfort. We salute him for his unwavering and steadfast commitment to serve selflessly and with humility,” he said.
Jacobs will be buried on Saturday by his family.
He is survived by his wife Amelia and three children.
