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By ANA Reporter 
9h ago
Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has added his voice to those who pay tribute to renowned anti-apartheid lawyer and vice president of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Priscilla Jana, who died at the age of 76 on Saturday.
South Africa has lost a human rights icon and formidable legal intellect with Jana’s death, Ramaphosa said in a statement issued by the presidency on Sunday.
“Ms. Jana was a prominent and courageous human rights lawyer who dedicated her practice to fighting the apartheid regime, defending a wide range of leaders in the struggle and upholding the rights of marginalized South Africans,” he said.
Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to Jana’s family, friends and comrades, as well as the leadership and staff of the South African Human Rights Commission.
Jana was a former Member of Parliament and South African Ambassador to the Netherlands and Ireland.
“Our nation and our legal fraternity have lost a champion in the fight we wage for justice, freedom and democracy,” Ramaphosa said.
“Priscilla Jana stood alongside Solomon Mahlangu, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and many other leaders as they fought for freedom on our streets and in the courts of the unjust apartheid legal system.
“She helped focus world attention on apartheid South Africa and went on to fly the flag of a free and democratic South Africa by representing our country in the Netherlands and Ireland.
“We will always be indebted to Priscilla Jana for her contribution to our freedom and for championing equality and the causes of vulnerable South Africans in our democratic administration.
“May his soul rest in peace at the end of the extraordinary life he has led in the service of our nation,” Ramaphosa said.
ANA
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