The Free State province politics have been dealt another blow after the passing of former Premier Frances Beatrice Marshoff. Current premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, announced Marshoff’s passing in a statement on Saturday.
A qualified professional nurse, Marshoff was among the prominent political figures who attended Dukwana’s maiden state of the province address (Sopa) on 28 February. She is the third female premier to pass on after her two predecessors, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, who died in 2009, and Winkie Direko, who passed on in 2012.
Marshoff previously served as the MEC for Social Development before the ANC elected her as premier, serving from 2004 until 2009. She took over from Direko, who had served from 1999 until 2004. She also had a stint as member of parliament for the ANC.
“She served the people of the Free State province with great honour and distinction, particularly at a time when female leaders in such positions were a great rarity,” said Dukwana.
Marshoff died at age 66. She was the fourth Free State premier in terms of succession.
Several people paid tribute to Marshoff and expressed condolences via Facebook posts.
Charley Petersen reacted by saying: “Our deepest condolences to the Marshoff family. What a loss. This was my former boss. What a remarkable person. May your beautiful soul rest in peace.”
After taking a break from hectic politics, Marshoff returned to her first love as profession: nursing. She worked as a scrub nurse at Bloemfontein Mediclinic, a private hospital in the Free State.
