Parks Tau honours ANC councillor who died at city council meeting

Leonie Pretorius

28 August 2016

Former Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau has paid tribute to the Johannesburg African National Congress councillor who collapsed during a meeting to vote for the new leadership of the city last week.

Tau was speaking at the funeral of Nonhlanhla Mthembu saying she was a gallant activist who contributed in making apartheid ungovernable.

The life of Mthembu who's fondly remembered as Black Diamond and Stompie is being celebrated by family, friends and comrades.

Tau, who's is still referred as mayor by his comrades, says Mthembu was committed to the ruling party.

According to the ANC, she recently celebrated her 50th birthday and was a long standing member of the party, having served as a Johannesburg councillor since 2011.

She had just been re-elected to serve another five years when she died.

Details on the exact cause of death haven’t been released.