General

MANZINI - Their Majesties have described former Senator Constance Simelane as someone who was trustworthy, loyal and a problem solver, leaving a mark in every office she occupied.

Their Majesties, who were speaking through the voice of Shiselweni Regional Administrator (RA) Themba Masuku during the State Memorial Service for the late former senator, noted that her hard work and dedication also saw her serving at the United Nations.

The memorial service for the late first female Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) of the Kingdom of Eswatini, which lasted about five and a half hours, was held at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Manzini yesterday. It is worth noting that Masuku succeeded the late former senator as DPM of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

On the other hand, Simelane’s obituary, which was read by Dr Emmanuel Howe, revealed that her dream was to become a lawyer. However, her parents discouraged her, as lawyers were often imprisoned in South Africa by the apartheid regime. According to the obituary, she was born in Amsterdam, South Africa, on October 14, 1942, to the late Dr Funwako James Simelane and Judith (nee Nkonyane). She was the second eldest of six children.

She started her elementary education at Entuthukweni Primary in Ermelo. Part of her secondary education was at Inkamana High School in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and she continued at Swazi National High School in Matsapha. “Her dream was to become a lawyer. However, her parents discouraged her, as lawyers were often imprisoned in South Africa by the apartheid regime. She then applied to the then Pious College (later UBLS) in Roma, Maseru, for a Bachelor’s Degree,” reads part of the obituary.

While she was in Roma, she received a scholarship from the Africa Scholarship Programme of American Universities and enrolled at Roosevelt University in Chicago where she obtained a BA Degree in Sociology. After graduation, she worked as a Credit Researcher in Chicago before moving to the United Nations Secretariat in New York.

Upon her return to the country, she worked as an Assistant Secretary in the DPM’s Office under the then DPM Mfundza Sukati. Subsequently, she went back to further her education at the American University in Washington, DC, where she obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Her postgraduate education included studying Advanced Purchasing Strategies at the International School in Austria. She also obtained a Certificate in Civic Education from the Civic Institute of Civic Education in Washington, DC.

Full story in today’s paper.

R) Former Senator Thuli Mswane delivering words of comfort to the Simelane family and the nation on behalf of the Women’s Manyano during the memorial service yesterday. (Pics: Sibusiso Zwane)

Their Majesties and government representatives Shiselweni RA Themba Masuku (2nd L) and Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi (3rd L) following the proceedings of the late former Senator Constance Simelane’s State memorial service, together with some of the mourners.

Mourners following proceedings.