Pretoria - Parliament has opened books of condolences for three of its members who passed away recently - Minister of Public Service and Administration, Radhakrishna "Roy" Padayachie, former Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka and Florence Ntombizodwa Nyanda, Member of Parliament (MP).
A special sitting of the National Assembly will also take place on Friday to consider motions of condolences for Padayachie and Nyanda, both serving Members of the National Assembly at the time of their deaths.
The National Assembly considered and passed a motion of condolences for Shiceka on 2 May, after which all political parties represented in Parliament paid tribute to him. Shiceka was also a serving MP when he died.
The books of condolences are in the National Assembly foyer for MPs to sign.
"Parliament wishes their families peace and strength as they mourn the deaths of their loved ones," Parliament said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi also used the occasion of his Budget Vote speech in Parliament today to pay tribute to the three deceased leaders.
"Today, Public Service and Administration Minister Roy Padayachie is entering his post-life permanent place of rest. On Saturday this week, former Minister of Cooperative Governance, Sicelo Shiceka, will be buried. Mom-Flo Nyanda, Member of Parliament (MP), is also no more.
"These three leaders have run their races and fought their fights, and have now reached their final destinations, cold, still and voiceless. They live their spears with us."
National leaders, including President Jacob Zuma, Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu, Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Labour Mildred Oliphant joined the country in bidding farewell to Padayachie at Durban's Sahara Kingsmead Stadium.
The Eastern Cape provincial government will, meanwhile, hold a memorial service for former Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Sicelo Shiceka, in Flagstaff in OR Tambo District, on Thursday.
The memorial service will be held at Jikindaba Sports Grounds at 10am, where national and provincial leaders of government are also expected to attend.
Shiceka, who passed away at Mthatha General Hospital in the Eastern Cape last Monday, will be laid to rest on Saturday, May 12, in Midrand, Johannesburg.
President Jacob Zuma has accorded Shiceka a Special Official Funeral Category 1.
This category is reserved for distinguished persons specifically designated by the President of the Republic of South Africa.
All national flags will fly at half-mast at all flag stations across the country until the evening of burial.
Shiceka, who died on 30 April, served Parliament from 2004 - first as a member of the National Council of Provinces, where he was Chairperson of the Select Committee on Local Government and Administration from 2004 to 2009, and then as a member of the National Assembly.
He was a Member of the Executive Committee responsible for Local Government and Housing in the Gauteng Legislature from 1994 to 1999.
Padayachie was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications in 2004 until 2009 and Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration from 2009 to the end of October 2010. From November 2010 to September 2011, he served as Minister of Communication and from October 2011 as Minister of Public Service and Administration.
Nyanda, who died on 5 May, served in a number of committees, including the Joint Monitoring Committee on the Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons, the Committees on Science and Technology, Correctional Services, Safety and Security, Constitutional Affairs and Local Government and Administration.
