JOHANNESBURG - Frene Ginwala has been hailed as a champion of justice and women's rights.
Ginwala died on Thursday at the age of 90, following a stroke two weeks ago.
The struggle stalwart has been remembered as someone who made sure that women had a say on the kind of South Africa they wanted post-apartheid.
"It was a very important one because, until 1994, we were able to work on the process and present the Women's Charter for effective equality which informed policymaking in the post-Apartheid government and other sectors of the economy, a template that indicated what are those issues that women of South Africa were concerned about," said Minister Thoko Didiza.
"I must also say that during that process, it also had an impact in ensuring that in the crafting of the very constitution, women were not only supporters of those who were negotiating but became part and parcel of the negotiations themselves."
Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor has reflected on the time she spent in Dr Ginwala's company.
She said not only was Ginwala a hard worker and committed to her role, but she has also been described as being fun with a great sense of humour.
"Frene was a lot of fun, she had an amazing sense of humour and would make these awful jokes from time to time and we'd be roaring with laughter," Pandor recalled.
"And then we would talk from time to time, fashion, because she has the most amazing saris and at every State of the Nation she would come up with a new way of wearing her different saris."