Ngubentombi served FS government with dignity

As tributes continued flowing in for the deceased MEC for health, Fezi Ngubentombi, her peers in the Free State executive council lavishly showered her with encomiums.

Ngubentombi became the MEC for health in 2009 after serving as the MEC for public works since 2009. She was no stranger to leadership positions in the democratic South Africa. She was the executive mayor of Metsimaholo Local Municipality from 2006 before becoming an MEC.

Mamiki Qabathe, the MEC of economic development, remembers Ngubentombi as a caring and compassionate MEC.

“I remember when we were with the premier during Operation Hlasela. Premier Ace Magashule always wanted us by his side during these visits but Fezi would always be busy chatting to people.

“On one occasion, when I went to fetch her, her response was calm, and in her trademark soft voice she said: ‘What should I do? Not now when people want my attention; the premier knows that I have to give them the attention they need if they want to speak to their MEC’,” reminisced Qabathe.

Recently, her department took more than 60 students to study medicine in Cuba, with the help of the Free State government. Other provinces such as Kwazulu Natal have applauded her for that initiative.

“She served and loved the ANC. She was working around the clock to make sure that these children go out there to pursue their studies. This is a task she implemented exceptionally well on behalf of the government,” added Qabathe.

The MEC for public works, Sisi Mabe, described Ngubentombi as a reliable and very loyal friend.

“It had difficulty in finding the right words to talk about this beloved friend of the past 16 year of our lives. When I received the news about her death, I immediately kneeled down and I prayed for her children; the government and everybody who knew her. Because I know that she was a people’s person.

I am standing here a proud person to have known Fezi. She was not a coward and I am taking bravery from her (sic).

“I also want to tell those who thought she was a coward that was not. She was a real friend for me and I knew I can count on her. My family was her family and my family was her family. I checked all the text messages she used to send; and all of them end with ‘God be with you’,” disclosed Mabe.

For her part, the MEC for health in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Sibongiseni Dlomo said: “The greatest tribute you can give to her is to remember that those children in Cuba are now studying because of the efforts of this great leader.”

A matron from the department of health, Motshidisi Mabandla, said Ngubentombi treated her with respect and dignity despite being the MEC’s subordinate.

“She was like a mother in our department. It is not usual for an ordinary person like me to have a close relationship with a person of her status. But she invited me to her home while she was still sick.

“I remember when we invited her as a speaker during the International Day of Nurses. She told us that she likes to speak from the heart and that is what she did. She was still young but she has done so much in her short life. We have lost a good person,” said Mabandla.

Free State premier, Ace Magashule, has announced that a street will be named after the fallen MEC, in recognition of her unwavering loyalty to the ANC led provincial government.

Magashule revealed this on Wednesday at the memorial service of the late Ngubentombi, which was held at the Central University of Technology’s (CUT) Boet Troskie Hall.

While paying his tribute, Magashule revealed that he trusted Ngubentombi with his life because she was simple, humble, caring and an easy-going person. He said she was also a very active member of the ANC.

“She emerged from the communities she served; she was nurtured and groomed to become a grounded member of the ANC. Yet, she was human and prone to erring. This means we can now name a street after Fezi because she died in the ANC,” said Magashule.