Mthembu died on Thursday from COVID-19 related complications.

Duarte has cautioned people to remain vigilant.

"We hope that as we go on in the next couple of days, we will find a way to heal ourselves and to understand that the real issue is we all have to mind the period we are in and that COVID-19 is not playing with anybody," she said.

"Unless we take matters into our own hands and we are careful and we wear our masks and social distance and we do not attend gatherings at all, we will be losing many more valuable South Africans."

Mthembu has been hailed as a life-long champion of freedom and democracy.

eNCA