PORT ELIZABETH - TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR DA STALWART, EDDIE TRENT, WHO PASSED AWAY AT AGED 80

Former Democratic Alliance (DA) Eastern Cape leader, Member of Parliament and Member of the Provincial Legislature, Eddie Trent, has passed away in Port Elizabeth. 

He was 80-years-old. Trent died from natural causes.

He represented the Port Elizabeth Central Constituency in the old provincial council along with his Progressive Federal Party colleague, Molly Blackburn. Later he was elected to the old national assembly, where he served until 1994.

In 1994 Trent was elected as the sole DA member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.

DA Provincial leader Bobby Stevenson says, “A political giant in our province has fallen. Eddie Trent was a fearless politician who fought for non-racialism and exposed corruption while championing his liberal values. As the first provincial leader of the DA in the Eastern Cape, he laid the foundation for where the DA is today.”

In 2018, Trent was presented with the Congress award for recognition of lifetime achievement in politics.

His late wife, Elizabeth Trent, was the leader of the opposition in the Nelson Mandela Bay Council. They have three children.

Nelson Mandela Bay  Executive Mayor Bhanga released the following statement:

On Thursday, 31 December 2020, we learnt of the passing of the former member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and National Parliament, Mr Eddie Trent (80).   

Eddie served the people of the Eastern Cape and Nelson Mandela Bay with distinction. His tireless constituency work and his work in the legislatures where he served, bear testament to his commitment to and realisation of a stable constitutional democracy in the Eastern Cape and, more particularly, Nelson Mandela Bay. His work and collegiality earned him respect across party lines.

 

Eddie’s work as a member of the opposition extended beyond holding the government to account, but he also made concrete proposals for the betterment of the Nelson Mandela Bay and its people. 

He advocated for the removal of the tank farm from Humewood and the establishment of a cruise ship terminal at the Port Elizabeth Harbour. Eddie saw how such a development could unleash the tourism potential of the city and create jobs for residents.

Eddie’s late wife, Elizabeth, passed away in January 2019 and she also served the City in the capacity as a Councillor and leader of the opposition in the Council for many years. 

On behalf of the City, I extend our condolences to Eddie’s children, family and friends.  

via - SABC / NMBM