Pretoria - Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has added her voice to those of many South Africans who have extended their condolences to Kader Asmal's family, saying his death was a huge loss for the country.
"The death of Prof. Kader Asmal has indeed left the ranks of the liberation movement, and indeed the rest of the country much poorer. As a nation, we grew accustomed to Prof. Asmal, an erudite scholar, engaging in fierce debates about critical issues affecting our country," she said in a statement.
Dlamini Zuma described Asmal as a true patriot who spent his life in the struggle for peace freedom and democracy, adding that he was no armchair critic.
Asmal, a former Cabinet Minister and struggle hero, died on Wednesday afternoon at Constantia Medi Clinic in Cape Town at the age of 76.
According to his family, he was admitted to the hospital last Friday for treatment of a stomach ailment.
"He was making reasonable progress in a general ward... up until he suffered a serious heart attack," said the family in a statement.
Dlamini Zuma said Asmal had made an immense contribution to the development of the country's constitutional model.
"Those of us who have had the privilege of serving with Prof. Asmal in various capacities both in the government and structures of the ruling party both at home and abroad would attest to his burning desire and commitment to the betterment of the lives of all our people, irrespective of race, colour, gender or religious beliefs," she said.
It was up to the nation to honour Asmal's memory by remaining true to the values he advocated for through this life, Dlamini Zuma added.
"It is our hope that the thoughts and prayers of the nation will indeed during this hour of grief reach out to his wife Louise, the two children, grandchildren and members of his broader family, fully cognizant that their pain, sorrow and bereavement is shared by millions of people in the country, the region and beyond."
