Obituary: Sisi Mabe, speaker and gender activist

Sisi Mabe, who has died in Vereeniging at the age of 47, was speaker of the Free State legislature and MEC of a variety of provincial departments, including health, rural development and public works.

1967-2014

While MEC for public works, she was one of the secret lovers of the former national minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs, Sicelo Shiceka, a high-living abuser of the public purse with whom she had a child, one of 19 he fathered.

Their affair became public when she rushed Shiceka to hospital after he collapsed in Bloemfontein. She camped at the hospital for days, sleeping on the benches.

The ANC has described her as "a strong woman, brilliant and yet humble", but there's little evidence of this in the portfolios she held. Under her leadership, for instance, conditions at state hospitals and clinics in the Free State did not noticeably improve. They frequently ran out of vital drugs and equipment.

Her election as speaker of the Free State legislature in May this year was in line with the ANC Women's League demand that provinces with a male premier should elect a female speaker. Her election was greeted with a standing ovation from female members of the ANC in the legislature and members of the women's league who packed the public gallery and chanted "If you strike a woman, you strike a rock".

It soon became clear, however, that she was out of her depth and had only a vague understanding of the rules and procedures.

When, just after the 2014 elections, the DA opposition wanted to call for a division on the budget, it was embarrassingly clear that she did not know how to proceed.

She adjourned the legislature and walked out, thereby denying the opposition the opportunity to call for a division.

She allowed behaviour that was contrary to the rule book. ANC members made statements during opposition speeches, and ANC backbenchers interrupted their own MECs during budget presentations. It was uncomfortably obvious that she had little or no control over the legislature.

Mabe, who was regarded as untouchable because of her political connections, was a surprise appointment to the ANC's national working committee. She also served on the provincial judicial committee and the magistrates' commission.

The women's league hailed her for her role in the formulation of the Gender Framework 2014 and for her commitment to women's rights.

This was regarded as somewhat ironic, given Shiceka's abusive relationships with many of his lovers and the unease he inspired in many of his female employees.

Mabe was born on August 21 1967 in Phiritona, Heilbron, in the Free State and was a teacher by profession after studying at the Sefikeng College of Education in QwaQwa.

She had an honours degree in leadership and management and a master's degree in policy studies and governance from the University of the Free State.

While working as a teacher, she was elected as an executive member of the South African Democratic Teachers Union, responsible for gender issues.

She died after a long illness and is survived by three children. Her husband, River Mabe, predeceased her.