Durban - President Jacob Zuma, members of Parliament and opposition parties were among a host of people who paid tribute to Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, a former KwaZulu-Natal MEC who died on Friday following a long illness.
Zuma said Mthimkhulu, a former teacher and radio journalist, had contributed immensely to the building of a new South Africa in all the areas in which he had been deployed in his working life.
“May his soul rest in peace.”
The ANC’s provincial leadership led by deputy chair Willies Mchunu and secretary Sihle Zikalala visited Mthimkhulu’s family at their Westville, Durban, home on Saturday.
“We are all in a state of shock, even though we knew he was sick we still held hope that he would recover and continue with his work.
“I last saw him at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital in September. We have indeed lost a cadre, a workaholic and the true servant of the people. We have no words to explain the great sense of loss we are going through,” said Zikalala.
Mthimkhulu, 56, joined the legislature in 1999, becoming an education portfolio committee chair and the party’s spin doctor before being appointed by then premier S’bu Ndebele as MEC for agriculture and environmental affairs. He then became the legislature’s deputy speaker in 2009. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the public participation, pensions and petitions committee.
Willies Mchunu, standing in for Premier Senzo Mchunu, who is overseas, said it was difficult to lose dedicated people. “I urge the family to … take comfort in knowing that their loss is also ours. Mthimkhulu did not (pay) lip service, he actually worked hard and the deeds were apparent.
Lydia Johnson, who replaced Mthimkhulu as agriculture MEC in 2009, said his death was a huge loss. “He was dedicated to and passionate about his work.”
National Freedom Party secretary-general Nhlanhla Khubisa described Mthimkhulu as a gentleman, saying he had fond memories of “this servant of the people”. “He was a kind person who made every member of the legislature feel welcome and at ease.”
DA leader Sizwe Mchunu said that they were saddened by the passing of a “veteran KZN politician”.
Mthimkhulu is survived by his wife Halalisile, five children and five grandchildren. His funeral is expected to take place midweek.
Political Bureau