Limpopo: Friends, family, and leaders from different sectors gathered in Limpopo on Saturday to bid farewell to Reverend Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, a stalwart of the anti-apartheid movement and a prominent leader in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

According to South African Government News Agency, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a touching eulogy at the University of Venda Stadium, reflecting on Farisani’s extraordinary life and his unwavering commitment to justice, faith, and liberation. Farisani, who was a Dean at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, died in hospital on 29 May 2025 after a long illness at the age of 76.

‘His life bears witness to the mission of Christ,’ President Ramaphosa told mourners, quoting the book of Luke, emphasising Farisani’s dedication to the poor and oppressed throughout his life. Born in 1948, Farisani grew up in an era defined by the painful injustices of apartheid. The President recounted the difficult circumstances of Farisani’s childhood, marked by forced removals and famil
ial displacement.

‘He was just a child, barely three years old, when his family was confronted with the ugly face of injustice.’ In 1996, Farisani testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, sharing personal accounts of his family’s forced relocation and the lasting impact of these traumas. President Ramaphosa said it was this early exposure to injustice that ignited his political consciousness and propelled him towards a lifetime of activism.

He highlighted Farisani’s academic brilliance, which caught the attention of a missionary while he worked as a child labourer on white farms. ‘I first met Dean Farisani when he spoke at my high school, Mpaphuli. We formed an immediate and lasting bond.’ For many years, the President said, they both worked alongside each other in the Black Evangelical Youth Organisation.

‘For him, there was no contradiction between the teachings of his faith and the mission of national liberation. He soon became attracted to liberation theology, and its message that true
Christian faith demands active resistance to all forms of oppression and solidarity with the poor.’ The President said his commitment to social justice led him to endure multiple arrests and significant personal sacrifice, including an eight-month detention during which he was subjected to torture.

In his book, Diary from a South African Prison, the late Reverend recounted the unimaginable ordeal of beatings, electric shocks, being forced to squat for days, and being smothered. ‘Apartheid was a great injustice, and he, heroic heart, was not content to choose a quiet life of pastoralism.’ The country’s first citizen described Farisani as a courageous revolutionary who inspired a generation to reclaim their pride and stand up for their rights. ‘I was amongst them.’

President Ramaphosa remembered him as a renowned academic and prolific scholar whose writings gave voice to the voiceless. ‘He was a guide and mentor to many. He was a dear friend. And yet it is Dean Farisani’s most salient quality that I will most
remember him for – he was a man of unwavering principle.’ He was elected to the first democratic Parliament in 1994 and would go on to serve as an MEC in Limpopo and as Speaker of the Legislature. ‘These roles placed him in a position of power and influence. Yet they did not change him.’

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba delivered a heartfelt tribute to Farisani that captured the impact he had on her life and the lives of many others. Her words highlighted Farisani’s unwavering commitment to integrity, justice, and equity, painting a vivid portrait of a man whose legacy continues to inspire.

‘Dr Farisani was not just a man of the cloth; he was a prophet of our time, a voice crying out for justice, equity, and the dignity of all God’s children. As I stand before you today, I am filled with profound gratitude and a deep sense of loss. My heart aches for the man we honour Dr Tshenuwani Farisani – a mentor, a father figure, and an unwavering beacon of hope. His impact on my life was transformative, and I am p
roud to say that I am a direct beneficiary of his exceptional guidance and love,’ said Ramathuba.

The late Reverend is survived by his wife, Mudzunga, and his children, Nzumbululo, Ndamulelo, and Zwovhonala.