Parties across the political spectrum paid tribute to Minister of Public Service and Administration Collins Chabane yesterday after he died in a car accident in Limpopo.
Chabane, previously the minister in the presidency, and his bodyguards Sergeant Lesiba Sekele and Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane died instantly when their vehicle slammed into a truck on the N1 near Polokwane in the early hours on Sunday.
President Jacob Zuma expressed shock and sadness at the “untimely death of an outstanding cadre of our liberation struggle and a competent, accomplished and dependable” member of his cabinet.
“This is a huge loss to government and the country as a whole,” he added.
A statement issued by parliament said Chabane had a long history “of service to building our democracy”.
DA leader Helen Zille tweeted her condolences to the minister’s family, describing Chabane as “a thoughtful and committed” cabinet minister.
UDM president Bantu Holomisa described Chabane as “one of the greatest sons of our people”, an esteemed administrator and a polished politician.
“Minister Chabane was one of the extraordinary leaders that had passion, constructive criticism and vision. He was a diligent, eloquent and focused person. His articulations in the house were not based on personalities and political allegiances but on practical socio-economic conditions confronting in particular the poor people of South Africa.
“We as the UDM and the people of this country will miss that bold, fast, persuasive voice; no one could talk while he was speaking,” said Holomisa
Outside of the political arena, condolences also came from the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, which joined “the rest of South Africa in mourning the tragic and untimely death of one of our great young leaders”.
The board said Chabane was always “warm and engaging in his interaction with SA Jewry, which in turn was reflective of his commitment to ensuring the peaceful co-existence of all South Africans”.
Chabane was born in Xikundu Village in Limpopo on April 15 1960.
He went into exile after a brief spell at Turfloop and later spent six years on Robben Island from 1984 to 1990.
After his release from prison Chabane served as provincial secretary of the ANC in Limpopo for eight years.
He was elected to parliament in 1994 and later appointed to various MEC positions in Limpopo.
He was elected to the ANC national executive committee at the 2007 conference in Polokwane.
In 2009, Chabane was appointed minister in the presidency responsible for performance monitoring and evaluation in President Zuma’s first term of office.
After the 2014 general elections he was moved to the portfolio of public service minister.
Tributes flow after ANC’s Chabane dies
Chabane, previously the minister in the presidency, and his bodyguards Sergeant Lesiba Sekele and Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane died instantly when their vehicle slammed into a truck on the N1 near Polokwane in the early hours on Sunday.
President Jacob Zuma expressed shock and sadness at the “untimely death of an outstanding cadre of our liberation struggle and a competent, accomplished and dependable” member of his cabinet.
“This is a huge loss to government and the country as a whole,” he added.
A statement issued by parliament said Chabane had a long history “of service to building our democracy”.
DA leader Helen Zille tweeted her condolences to the minister’s family, describing Chabane as “a thoughtful and committed” cabinet minister.
UDM president Bantu Holomisa described Chabane as “one of the greatest sons of our people”, an esteemed administrator and a polished politician.
“Minister Chabane was one of the extraordinary leaders that had passion, constructive criticism and vision. He was a diligent, eloquent and focused person. His articulations in the house were not based on personalities and political allegiances but on practical socio-economic conditions confronting in particular the poor people of South Africa.
“We as the UDM and the people of this country will miss that bold, fast, persuasive voice; no one could talk while he was speaking,” said Holomisa
Outside of the political arena, condolences also came from the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, which joined “the rest of South Africa in mourning the tragic and untimely death of one of our great young leaders”.
The board said Chabane was always “warm and engaging in his interaction with SA Jewry, which in turn was reflective of his commitment to ensuring the peaceful co-existence of all South Africans”.
Chabane was born in Xikundu Village in Limpopo on April 15 1960.
He went into exile after a brief spell at Turfloop and later spent six years on Robben Island from 1984 to 1990.
After his release from prison Chabane served as provincial secretary of the ANC in Limpopo for eight years.
He was elected to parliament in 1994 and later appointed to various MEC positions in Limpopo.
He was elected to the ANC national executive committee at the 2007 conference in Polokwane.
In 2009, Chabane was appointed minister in the presidency responsible for performance monitoring and evaluation in President Zuma’s first term of office.
After the 2014 general elections he was moved to the portfolio of public service minister.
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