• Professor Bengu helped transform South Africa’s education system as the first minister of education after 1994.

• He founded a high school and later became South Africa’s ambassador to Germany.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has praised the late Professor Sibusiso Bengu for his role in transforming South Africa’s education system after apartheid.

“In Professor Bengu, we have lost a distinguished educator, diplomat and servant of the people,” Mashatile said at Bengu’s funeral at the University of Zululand on Friday.

Bengu died in his sleep at home on 30 December. He was 90 years old.

President Cyril Ramaphosa awarded him a Special Official Funeral Category 2. Bengu was South Africa’s first education minister after democracy and later served as ambassador to Germany from 1999 to 2003.

He founded Dlangezwa High School in 1969 and served as its principal until 1976.

Mashatile noted that Bengu played a critical role in drafting significant laws such as the South African Schools Act and in addressing challenges in the higher education sector.

“He oversaw the amalgamation of 17 fragmented education departments into a unified system and introduced Curriculum 2005 to reform the school curriculum. His passion for promoting equality has had a long-lasting influence on society,” Mashatile said.

Former health minister Zweli Mkhize, who was taught by Bengu, described him as a father figure at Dlangezwa Institute.

“As a country, we need a strong commitment from educators who love their people with a passion to change society,” Mkhize said.

Mkhize also revealed that the ANC had sent Bengu on a secret mission with Mangosuthu Buthelezi to form the IFP as a front for the ANC.

“Unfortunately, a lot of things went wrong in the process, which led to tensions among IFP leaders due to the party’s tactics and strategies. As a result, the ANC advised him to go into exile,” he said.

Pictured above: Professor Sibusiso Bengu’s funeral.

Source: Supplied