ANC Deputy Secretary Jessie Duarte has died.

Since November 2021, 69-year-old Duarte was undergoing cancer treatment and had been on medical leave since.

In a statement, the ANC expressed its heartfelt condolences to the Duarte, Dangor and Whitley extended families.

Duarte was known as a tower of strength to the ruling party, as well as a matriarch and pillar to her family.

Since 2012, Duarte has been serving as the deputy secretary general.

The ANC described her as a person who dedicated her entire life to the struggle for a united, non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa.