Farewell to E Cape giant Rev Stofile

A former premier of the Eastern Cape, cabinet minister, ambassador and ANC stalwart, the Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile has died.

Stofile aged 72, died at his Alice home in the early hours of yesterday morning.

This was confirmed yesterday by family spokesman Siphiwe Mpye who said his father-in-law died after a long battle with diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

Mpye said Stofile was admitted to an East London private hospital before being transferred to the Rondebosch Medical Centre in Cape Town last week.

“His condition deteriorated while in Cape Town. When the doctors could do no more, he was airlifted to Bhisho on Sunday, then taken to his Alice home by an ambulance before he died a few hours later,” Mpye said.

Affectionately known as “Bra Stof”, Stofile has served the ANC and the South African government in different capacities.

Former Eastern Cape ANC provincial chairman, a sports administrator and a religious activist, Stofile was the first chief whip of the ANC in parliament in the first democratic government.

In 1998, Stofile, who at some point was also the ANC’s national treasurer, was deployed to his home province of the Eastern Cape to succeed Raymond Mhlaba as premier.

He went back to the National Assembly in 2004 where he was later appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Sports and Recreation before taking up a post as the country’s ambassador to Germany.

Recently added to his profile was his appointment as chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, where he had also studied.

President Jacob Zuma yesterday described Stofile as “a distinguished veteran of the liberation struggle”.

Stofile first entered politics in 1963 as a member of the African Students’ Association.

He, however, only became known on the political scene when he became the regional secretary and a member of the national executive committee of the United Democratic Front between 1983 and 1986. He later became a key person in the establishment of UDF in the Border region.

Mpye said Stofile leaves behind his mother, wife, two daughters and two grandchildren.

In the wake of the news of his death yesterday, tributes started flowing in from major political figures, including from serving Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle, who was one of the first people to visit Stofile’s home, poured in yesterday.

Masualle said Stofile had made an “immeasurable” contribution to South African democracy.

ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said Stofile’s long list of accolades “indicates that we have really lost a giant and indeed one of the many legends produced by our province”.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa described him as “a balanced man who approached things from a point of reason and calmness”.

DA provincial leader Athol Trollip said “it was with sadness” that he learnt the news of Stofile’s passing.

Former provincial premier Nosimo Balindlela, who suceeded Stofile, said yesterday “he was a man of principle, a man of great humanity and that he loved this country and most of all, he loved his wife and his family”.

SACP provincial spokesman Siya Mdodi said Stofile “served the people of our country with a great sense of love”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za