Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore has expressed sadness at the untimely and tragic death of one of the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) senior officials, describing it as a "tragedy of immense proportions".

Mrs Ntombezintlanu Dwane, Chief Education Specialist for Institutional Management and Governance in the Metropole East education district (Kuilsriver), and her husband were both killed in a car crash near King William’s Town over the weekend.

She has been in the employ of education her whole working life, and for the last ten years as a senior official in the WCED, having started as area manager in 1996. All circuit managers in the area reported to her.

As a senior official she was responsible for the management and governance of 260 schools in the areas of Khayelitsha, Mitchell’s Plain, Eerste River and the Blue Downs area.

She had to convene school governing body meetings after hours as most members were working, and she worked tirelessly, bringing stability to the schools.

When she worked in the communities she acknowledged the importance of working through community structures. She would never make a decision without the involvement of the communities.

Mrs Dwane obtained a BA degree and a University Education Diploma at the University of Fort Hare. She held a teaching post at Cicira Secondary School and married Dr Sigqibo Dwane in 1967. She later obtained a BA Hons degree from the University of London in 1978.

After acquiring extensive teaching experience in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, she held the post of principal at Nombulelo Senior Secondary in Grahamstown, where a matric pass rate of 95% was achieved under her leadership. Before being promoted to her present position in the Western Cape, she was manager of the Grahamstown area office from 1992 to 1995.

Bishop Siqibo and Mrs Dwane are survived by their four children Phumla, Vuyokazi, Zinzumzi and Ntabozuko, and three grandchildren, Aisha, Duma and Thantasiwe.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday 8 July 2006, from 10h00 in Stutterheim, Exholorha in the Eastern Cape.

Said MEC Dugmore: "Sis Ntombi Dwane was an institution in the WCED, a woman of substance and determination. Her work in the district office showed a deep commitment to community participation in education delivery.

"She played a pioneering role in bringing about the Khayelitsha Education Forum. My last conversation with her was about the need to support this forum, as well as the need to transform the WCED into a representative organisation, fundamentally committed to service delivery and quality education.

"She has devoted her whole life to education and still had a huge contribution to make. Although she was about to retire, I have no doubt that she was not the kind of person who could easily sit still.

"We will miss her wisdom, direct approach and institutional memory. We will organise an event in her honour in the new term. My condolences to the family, colleagues and many friends. Hamba Kahle Qabane."

* The following arrangements have been made:

1. A prayer meeting will be held at the EMDC: Metropole East (Room H3) on Thursday, 6 July 2006 at 09H00.

2. A memorial service for Mrs Dwane will be held in the Sports Hall at EMDC: Metropole East on Friday, 21 July 2006 at 13H00.

The Education Management and Development Centre – East wishes to express its sincere condolences to Mrs Dwane’s family, friends and colleagues.

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi:  082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.