Ntuli died of heart failure on Saturday on arrival at the Pretoria Heart Hospital after her children noted that she was not well, the department said in a statement.

Ntuli, one of the women who participated in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) in the early 1990s, was a Member of Parliament since 1994 where she served in various committees, including the joint committee on the improvement of quality of life and status of women and the portfolio committee on trade and industry.

In 2009, she was appointed one of two deputy ministers of trade and industry. In 2010, she was deployed to the social development ministry where she served until 2014.

“Mrs Ntuli was a devoted Christian who could balance and infuse her politics and religious beliefs to serve the poor and the vulnerable of the county. During her tenure at social development, she led one of the most successful campaigns ‘Taking DSD to communities’, because she believed that government should always bring its services closer to the people,” the statement said.

She was also committed to education and in her old age she continued her education and encouraged everyone around her to continue studying. She held a Bachelor of Commerce in information systems and at the age of 71 obtained her advanced diploma in economic policy at the University of the Western Cape.

Dlamini expressed her sadness at Ntuli’s death and sent her condolences to her family, especially her children.

“Personally, I have lost a good comrade who was humble and loyal to the ANC. She had the utmost respect for me as her minister even though she was older than me. A staunch Christian who made sure that every meeting started and ended with prayer. I remember that she had a good heart and when I was the secretary general of the ANCWL she would accompany me to go to the branches for my audit work. All this showed that she was always ready to do the work of the organisation,” Dlamini said.

Ntuli is survived by her daughter and two sons. In another statement, the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) also paid tribute to Ntuli.

“The ANC Women’s League and the African National Congress… at large have lost a dedicated servant of our people, a scholar, a gender activist, and an ardent advocate for equality in line with the fundamental principles of the ANC of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and a united nation.

“Our sadness cannot compare with that of her closest family and friends, who borrowed her to our movement and our people, to them we owe a deep debt of gratitude for having shared comrade Bongi with us,” the statement said.

The ANCWL conveyed its heartfelt condolences to Ntuli’s family and friends.

ANA