Mamoepa was Ramaphosa's spokesperson at the time of his death.
Ronnie Mamoepa (born July 12, 1962) was a South African political activist and Spokesperson for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. He was a member of the Gauteng provincial legislature.
For several years, he was among the recognized faces of government and the ruling party. He served as the spokesperson for the African National Congress in the early 1990s.
Early Life
| Ronnie Mamoepa | |
|---|---|
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| Personal Information | |
| Name: | Molapyane Ronald Ephraim Mamoepa |
| Other names | Ronnie Mamoepa |
| Born: | July 12, 1962 |
| Place of Birth: | Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria |
| Died: | July 2017 in Pretoria (age 56 years old) |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | B.Juris degree |
| Alma mater: | UNISA |
| Occupation: | Political activist |
| Wife: | Audrey |
| Children: | 5 |
| Funeral service: | St Alban’s (Anglican) Cathedral, Nana Sita Street, Pretoria (Church service), Zandfontein Cemetery, Pretoria. |
Ronnie Mamoepa was born on July 12, 1962, in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria. He was the fourth child of Mrs. Helen Mamoepa and came from a humble beginning.
Education
From 1996 to 1969, Mamoepa the Matseka Lower Primary School in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. Later in 1970, he attended the Walton Jameson Higher Primary School and Hofmeyer High School in 1974.
His engagements in political activities interrupted his education. He was part Atterdgeville – Saulsville student movement from 1976 to 1979. On Robben Island, he obtained his matric certificate in 1983. He registered with UNISA to pursue a B.Juris degree.
Career
From 1986 to 1990, he worked as a journalist for SASPU National. Mamoepa was a Provincial Executive Committee Member of UDF Southern Transvaal from 1989 to 1991. He also served as the spokesperson of the UDF in the region.
Mamoepa was an Executive Committee member of the African National Congress Atteridgeville-Saulsville branch in 1990. He served on the Media team of the National Reception Committee the same year.
Ronnie was the Provincial Spokesperson for the African National Congress Gauteng from 1991 to 1992. He was the media liaison officer for the ANC’s Department of Information and Publicity.
Mamoepa became an elected member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in May 1994. He served in the Housing and the Safety and Security Portfolio Committees.
From 1996 to 1998, he served as the Director of the Information and Publicity unit of the ANC. He became the Chief Director: Communication in the office of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki in 1998. He assumed the position of Presidential Spokesperson in June 1999.
An appointment in February 2000 made him the head of the Public Diplomacy unit at the then Department of Foreign Affairs. He served as the spokesperson for Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Ronnie joined the Department of Home Affairs to head the communications portfolio in May 2009. He became the Spokesperson to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in June 2014.
Activism
Since his days as a student, he participated in political activities. From 1976 to 1979, he was part of the Atterdgeville – Saulsville student movement. On many occasions, he was detained under the country’s terrorism laws.
Ronnie’s political activism led to his arrest at nineteen on the charge of conspiracy to overthrow the state. At twenty, his service began on Robben Island, and he was among the youngest political prisoners on the Island.
After his release from the Island, he returned to Atteridgeville, Pretoria. He carried on with his political activities. When the President, PW Botha, declared a state of emergency in 1985, he and others faced detention without trial.
Foundation
Ronnie Mamoepa has been lauded for his contribution to promoting democracy during his lifetime.
Former colleagues, comrades, family, and friends gathered at the Freedom Park National Heritage Site in Pretoria to launch the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation.
Personal Life
Ronnie Mamoepa and his wife, Audrey, had five children – Olefile, Muriel, Sakhile, Ntando, and Ofentse. He died in hospital at 23:15 on Saturday in July 2017.
The activist had undergone surgery in June 2017. He passed away at a hospital in Pretoria after battling complications from a stroke he suffered.
Funeral
Family, friends, and loved ones bid farewell to freedom fighter Ronnie Mamoepa. The public Memorial Service for the late Ronnie Mamoepa took place on July 27, 2017, at Tshwane Events Centre, 205 Soutter St, Pretoria West.
The funeral service followed on Saturday, July 29, 2017, at St Alban’s (Anglican) Cathedral, Nana Sita Street, Pretoria, for Church service and at Zandfontein Cemetery, Pretoria.