Tributes pour in for former KZN MEC Ina Cronje
Tributes have been pouring in following the death of Ina Cronjé, former KZN MEC and chairperson of the Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal Board of Directors.
Ms Cronjé died at her home in Hilton, surrounded by family on October 24. She was a political stalwart, educator and lawyer and died after a short illness, surrounded by her closest family and her beloved cats and dogs who had been guarding her bed.
Ms Cronjé leaves her husband Pierre, daughter Larissa, son Reuben and grandson Mikka behind.
Mr Cronjé, remembering her, said: “For 59 years, we had a full and exciting life, sharing our love for cars, travel and a commitment to the struggle to make South Africa a better place for all”.
“She was a woman of substance, who lived and died on her own terms,” her daughter Larissa Cronjé and son Reuben Cronjé said, adding that the family was grateful that they could grant her last wish.
KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube passed on a poignant message to Mr Cronjé saying she was sorry to hear about the passing of her “leader and mentor”.
Christi Naudé, her friend and former media liaison officer said Ms Cronjé had worked as a teacher, lawyer, and politician.
She was dubbed “Mama Action” during her tenure as education MEC and known as the “no-nonsense” finance MEC who led the Provincial Treasury out of the red to a healthy financial position.
“Fearless, hard-working and solution driven. She was one of the most principled people I have known. I salute an incredible woman, who later also became a precious and dear friend,” said Ms Naudé.
Esther Naidoo, her former personal assistant commented that her journey with Ms Cronjé made a difference not only in her life but also the lives of the KZN Community.
“It is incredibly satisfying to hear people still talking about her tremendous hard work and notable achievements as MEC for education and finance. She was out there for the people and went the extra mile to make a difference.”
A private memorial service will be held Ms Cronje’s family and friends while a public memorial service is under consideration and details will be announced later.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Prior to her political career (first as ANC Deputy Chief Whip and later as Chief Whip and MEC for education and finance) she taught at schools from Amanzimtoti to Pietermaritzburg. She made the decision to pursue a career in law in the 1980s at the time her husband Pierre was first elected to Parliament, and she practised as attorney in Pietermaritzburg until 1994. During this period, she also became more active in the African National Congress and was a founder member of the first ANC branch in Pietermaritzburg Central after the ANC was unbanned. As a consequence of her political involvement, she defended many ANC comrades in political trials. In her portfolio as Education MEC she inspired her staff to obtain the KZN Education Department’s first unqualified audit opinion since democracy. During her term of office, the teacher to learner ratio was also reduced to an all-time low of 1:31. To this day, former learners would still stop Ina on the street as they remembered her from visiting almost every school in the Province. She took over as Finance MEC of the Provincial Treasury in 2009. Under her leadership the KZN government excelled in directing expenditure to the most necessary programmes and projects.