Yasmin "Jessie" Duarte ({{Nee|Dangor}}; 19 September 1953 – 17 July 2022) was a South African politician and acting secretary-general of the African National Congress. A longtime anti-apartheid activist, she served variously as a special assistant to Nelson Mandela, a member of the provincial cabinet (MEC) for Gauteng, as ambassador to Mozambique, and as spokesperson for the ANC, before assuming her post as Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC in 2012, until her death on 17 July 2022.

Early life and career

Yasmin Dangor was born on 19 September 1953 in Coronationville on Johannesburg's West Rand and grew up in nearby Westbury and Newclare.{{cite news |last1=Madia |first1=Tshidi |date=17 July 2022 |title=A look at the life and times of Jessie Duarte |language=en |work=Eyewitness News |url=https://ewn.co.za/2022/07/17/a-look-at-jessie-duarte-s-life |access-date=17 July 2022}} One of nine children to Julie and Ebrahim Dangor, she was the sister of the poet and activist Achmat Dangor.{{Cite web |date=6 September 2020 |title=Tributes pour in for author, political activist Achmat Dangor |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/tributes-pour-in-for-author-political-activist-achmat-dangor-015dfbbd-d8d5-4c93-96c6-0e34ea181372 |access-date=6 September 2020 |website=IOL, www.iol.co.za |language=en}}

After matriculation from Coronationville Secondary School in Johannesburg, Duarte started her professional career as a management accountant. By 1979, she was recruited by Albertina Sisulu to set up women’s structures throughout South Africa.{{cite web |title=Jessie Yasmin Duarte |url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/jessie-yasmin-duarte |website=South African History Online, www.sahistory.org.za |access-date=24 June 2021}} Two years later, in 1981, she served in the position of secretary of the Federation of Transvaal Women, an anti-apartheid organisation.{{Cite web|last=Mueni|first=Priscillah|date=25 November 2019|title=The rise of Jessie Duarte|url=https://briefly.co.za/43585-jessie-duarte-age-children-siblings-party-current-office.html|access-date=24 June 2021|website=Briefly|language=en}}

In 1988, she was detained without trial. She was subsequently placed under a banning order until the lifting of the prevailing state of emergency. Around that time she was working with Reverend Beyers Naudé to set up a scholarship fund to educate anti-apartheid activists to become an effective corps of public servants. She worked for Ravan Press, a publishing company co-founded by Naudé.

Political career

When Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990, he appointed Duarte to be one of his personal assistants, a position she held until he became President of South Africa in 1994. She also assisted Walter Sisulu in a similar capacity in the lead-up to South Africa's first democratic elections.{{cite news |last1=Madia |first1=Tshidi |title=Remembering Jessie Duarte: straight shooter, patient, with a deep love for ANC |url=https://ewn.co.za/0001/01/01/anc-deputy-secretary-general-jessie-duarte-passes-away |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=ewn.co.za |date=17 July 2022 |language=en}} She became involved in the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) at a regional level and was elected to the Transvaal Provincial Executive Council (PEC), was appointed to the ANC's interim leadership core, and became the inaugural Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Safety and Security in Gauteng. In 1997, she was elected to ANC's National Executive Committee.

In 1998, she was accused of taking her lover on a trip to Portugal at the taxpayers' expense, sparking a controversy on the possible misuse of public funds.{{Cite web|date=6 February 1998|title=Lover's trip damns Duarte|url=https://mg.co.za/article/1998-02-06-lovers-trip-damns-duarte/|access-date=13 April 2021|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA}} She was subsequently forced to quit her position as Safety and Security MEC after a commission of inquiry reported a "strong suspicion" that she had covered up a car accident while driving without a licence.{{Cite web|title='NOT FIT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE'|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2009-10-09-not-fit-for-public-office/|access-date=23 June 2021|website=SowetanLIVE|language=en-ZA}} Duarte admitted to having driven a car without a license but maintained that it was people in her department who had put out the claim that it was a bodyguard driving at the time.{{Cite web|last=Barron|first=Chris|title=Back with a vengeance|url=https://www.news24.com/witness/archive/back-with-a-vengeance-20150430|access-date=23 June 2021|website=Witness|date=27 February 2008 |language=en-US}} The Mail & Guardian newspaper reported that she delivered the allegedly fraudulent document containing this claim to them in person.{{Cite web|date=20 February 1998|title=Another day, another car smash scandal|url=https://mg.co.za/article/1998-02-20-another-day-another-car-smash-scandal/|access-date=23 June 2021|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA}}

Duarte then became a diplomat and served as the South African ambassador to Mozambique from 1999 to 2003.

She became a spokesperson for the ANC and until 2010 served as chief operations officer in the Presidency in the office of President Jacob Zuma. In 2009 she featured in the news for two recorded diatribes launched against journalists Philani Nombembe of the Sunday Times{{Cite web |url=http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=984611 |title=The Times |access-date=22 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422144705/http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=984611 |archive-date=22 April 2009 |url-status=dead }} and John Humphrys of BBC Radio.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8003000/8003639.stm|title=South Africa prepares for vote|date=17 April 2009|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} She later voiced support for the ANC's plans for a Media Appeals Tribunal in South Africa which faced criticism as being political interference with free speech and possibly unconstitutional.{{Cite web|last=Makinana|first=Andisiwe|title=Contentious media tribunal still on the cards|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/contentious-media-tribunal-still-on-the-cards-20170708|access-date=23 June 2021|website=News24|language=en-US}} Duarte blamed the media for portraying Jacob Zuma in a negative light;{{Cite web|last=Rajab|first=Kalim|date=3 April 2019|title=OPINIONISTA: The odious Jessie Duarte: Why this bully will be judged harshly by history|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2019-04-03-the-odious-jessie-duarte-why-this-bully-will-be-judged-harshly-by-history/|access-date=23 June 2021|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}} according to the Mail & Guardian, "her dislike for the media [was] an open secret.{{Cite web|date=8 December 2017|title=RECAP: Unravelling the riddle of Jessie Duarte|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-12-08-00-unravelling-the-riddle-of-jessie/|access-date=23 June 2021|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA}}

In December 2012, she was elected as Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC during the party's 53rd National Conference held in Mangaung, Free State.{{cite news |last1=Subramany |first1=Deshnee |title=Mangaung: The ANC's newly elected top six |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2012-12-18-mangaung-the-ancs-newly-elected-top-six/ |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=The Mail & Guardian |date=18 December 2012 |language=en-ZA}} She was re-elected for a second five-year term at ANC's next national conference in Nasrec, Gauteng in 2017.{{cite news |last1=Nicolson |first1=Greg |title=#ANCdecides2017: Meet the ANC's new Top Six |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-12-18-ancdecides2017-meet-the-ancs-new-top-six/#.WjlIBvCnG70 |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=Daily Maverick |date=18 December 2017 |language=en}} She took over as ANC's acting Secretary-General when the incumbent Ace Magashule was suspended due to his indictment for corruption in May 2021.{{cite news |last1=Addamah |first1=Steven |title=South Africa: Jessie Duarte appointed interim Secretary general of ANC |url=https://medafricatimes.com/23313-south-africa-jessie-duarte-appointed-interim-secretary-general-of-anc.html |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=Medafrica Times |date=11 May 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Harper |first1=Paddy |last2=Tandwa |first2=Lizeka |title=Duarte: Magashule's court challenge to his suspension is premature |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2021-05-26-duarte-magashules-court-challenge-to-his-suspension-is-premature/ |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=The Mail & Guardian |date=26 May 2021 |language=en-ZA}}

In 2014, Duarte publicly compared Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to that of Nazi Germany.{{Cite web|title=ANC: Statement by Jessie Duarte, ANC Deputy Secretary General, on the situation in the Gaza Strip (10/07/2014)|url=https://www.polity.org.za/article/anc-statement-by-jessie-duarte-anc-deputy-secretary-general-on-the-situation-in-the-gaza-strip-10072014-2014-07-10|website=Polity.org.za}} This drew strong rebukes from Jewish groups within South Africa.{{Cite web|title=ANC comparison of Israel to Nazis riles South African Jews|url=https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/ANC-comparison-of-Israel-to-Nazis-riles-South-African-Jews-362289|website=The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com|date=10 July 2014 }}

In 2019, she accused the ANC, the majority ruling party in South Africa, of being "racist" and "tribalistic" towards members and voters who are not black Africans.{{Cite web|title=The ANC is racist and tribalistic, says gatvol Jessie Duarte|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/the-anc-is-racist-and-tribalistic-says-gatvol-jessie-duarte-37806623|access-date=13 April 2021|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}}

In 2020 Jessie Duarte wanted the justice minister to "address" the "influential role" of the chief justice at the Judicial Service Commission as she felt that the independent judiciary had too much power.{{Cite web |last=Gerber |first=Jan |title='Biggest racketeering syndicate in democratic history': ANC cadre records reveal attack on judiciary |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/political-parties/biggest-racketeering-syndicate-in-democratic-history-anc-cadre-records-reveal-attack-on-judiciary-20240221 |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} In a letter dated 2 March 2020 she attempted to influence the selection process for a constitutional court judge. There is no evidence that her attempts to weaken the judiciary were successful.

On 7 January 2021, Duarte announced that she would be retiring as deputy secretary-general of the ANC at the party's next conference in 2022.{{Cite news|last=du Plessis|first=Carien|date=7 January 2021|title=Jessie Duarte to retire in 2 years' time, says she is looking forward to 'writing books'|work=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/jessie-duarte-to-retire-in-2-years-time-says-she-is-looking-forward-to-writing-books-20210107|access-date=7 January 2021}}

She was accused of being tolerant of corruption within government structures,{{Cite web|last=Rajab|first=Kalim|date=3 April 2019|title=OPINIONISTA: The odious Jessie Duarte: Why this bully will be judged harshly by history|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2019-04-03-the-odious-jessie-duarte-why-this-bully-will-be-judged-harshly-by-history/|access-date=13 April 2021|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}} and in April 2021 supported former President Zuma's claims that the Zondo Commission was discredited.{{Cite web|title=Leaked audio: Some ANC top six members appear to concur with Zuma that Zondo commission and judiciary are biased|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/leaked-audio-some-anc-top-six-members-appear-to-concur-with-zuma-that-zondo-commission-and-judiciary-are-biased-e1d274f4-b852-4bf3-9a44-e2c83a2fdd42|access-date=13 April 2021|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}} Evidence given at the commission suggested that Duarte’s ex-husband, John Duarte, was one of the people who appeared in the evidence of money flows from contracts within the scope of the commission's investigation.{{Cite web|last=Ngatane|first=Nthakoana|title=Jessie Duarte's ex-husband's name appears in Gupta contract money flows|url=https://ewn.co.za/2021/05/24/jessie-duarte-s-ex-husband-s-name-appears-in-gupta-contract-money-flows|access-date=19 June 2021|website=ewn.co.za|language=en}}{{Clarify|reason=Not clear what this sentence means and in what way John Duarte was implicated|date=December 2022}} Her son was also accused of receiving money from a company that was awarded government tenders.{{Cite web|title=Jessie Duarte's son, ex in kickback scandal|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2019-05-05-jessie-duartes-son-ex-in-kickback-scandal/|access-date=24 June 2021|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}

In June 2021, months after a report implicating the Chinese government in using the Uyghur minority for forced labour inside sweat shops in northwest China,{{Cite web|date=19 June 2021|title=Uyghurs for sale|url=https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale}} Duarte was quoted by China's state news service, Xinhua News Agency, as saying that China was a model for many developing countries to learn from in areas such as poverty eradication, economic growth and development in east China; Duarte believed that the approach upheld by the Chinese Communist Party resonated with the ANC and its principle of Batho Pele or "People First.".{{Cite web|title=Interview: China's anti-poverty, economic feat led by CPC sets example for developing countries, says S. African party leader – Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-06/10/c_1310000625.htm|access-date=19 June 2021|website=www.xinhuanet.com}}{{cite news |last1=Shiningayamwe |first1=Loide |title=China sets example for global anti-poverty efforts, says African ruling parties and its leaders |url=https://www.pressreader.com/namibia/new-era/20210625/281921661015990 |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=New Era |date=25 June 2021 |location=www.pressreader.com}}

Personal life and death

She was married to John Duarte, with whom she had two children, and divorced in 2001.{{Cite web|last1=Nkosi|first1=Joseph|last2=MA|title=Jessie Duarte biography, age, profile, education, positions, party {{!}} The Nation|date=12 May 2021|url=https://thenation.co.za/bio/jessie-duarte-biography/|access-date=24 June 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211753/https://thenation.co.za/bio/jessie-duarte-biography/|url-status=dead}}

In 2022, the African National Congress gave Jessie Duarte sick leave and she was away from her political duties for many months. After false claims of her death circulated on social media in the wake of her absence from public party events, Duarte revealed on 24 April 2022 that she had cancer.{{Cite news|first1=Aphiwe |last1=Deklerk |title=ANC dispels Jessie Duarte death rumours |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2022-04-24-anc-dispels-jessie-duarte-death-rumours/ |date=26 April 2022 |access-date=26 April 2022 |work=TimesLIVE |language=en-ZA}} She died from cancer on 17 July 2022 at age 68.{{cite news |last1=Masuabi |first1=Queenin |title=OBITUARY: ANC's Jessie Duarte has died |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-07-17-ancs-jessie-duarte-has-died/ |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=Daily Maverick |date=17 July 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Harper |first1=Paddy |title=ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte has died |url=https://mg.co.za/news/2022-07-17-anc-deputy-secretary-general-jessie-duarte-has-died/ |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=The Mail & Guardian |date=17 July 2022 |language=en-ZA}}{{cite news |last1=Cele |first1=S'thembile |last2=Siwele |first2=Khuleko |title=Jessie Duarte, Former Special Assistant to Mandela, Dies at 68 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-17/jessie-duarte-former-special-assistant-to-mandela-dies-at-68 |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=17 July 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nkosi |first=Ntombi |title=Duarte described by the ANC as a tower of strength has passed away after a battle with cancer |url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/duarte-described-by-the-anc-as-a-tower-of-strength-has-passed-away-after-a-battle-with-cancer-5d3befe2-2277-4056-aa03-bf958ef1e105 |access-date=17 July 2022 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Maqhina |first1=Mayibongwe |title=Obituary: ANC deputy secretary-general Duarte a great loss |url=https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/obituary-anc-deputy-secretary-general-duarte-a-great-loss-bb323698-69cc-44d1-995b-ec481b443e44 |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=www.iol.co.za |date=17 July 2022 |language=en}} Her funeral was held in accordance with Muslim rites later that same day, with the eulogy delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa; she was buried at Westpark Cemetery.{{cite news |last1=Mntambo |first1=Nokukhanya |title='Her politics was not divisive, but empowering, unifying' – Ramaphosa on Duarte |url=https://ewn.co.za/2022/07/17/we-were-due-to-visit-duarte-on-day-of-her-death-ramaphosa |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=Eyewitness News |date=17 July 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Sadike |first1=Mashudu |title=Jessie Duarte laid to rest in Johannesburg |url=https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/jessie-duarte-laid-to-rest-in-johannesburg-75a89a89-b268-4994-866e-38be3724146a |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=IOL |date=17 July 2022}}

References

Category:1953 births

Category:2022 deaths

Category:African National Congress politicians

Category:South African anti-apartheid activists

Category:Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature

Category:Women members of provincial legislatures of South Africa

Category:Deaths from cancer in South Africa

Category:Politicians from Johannesburg

Category:South African civil servants

Category:South African Muslims

Category:South African women civil servants