Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma on Monday urged South Africans to be strong in a period of mourning, following the death of Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane.
Addressing reporters outside Chabane’s house in Waterkloof, east of Pretoria, Zuma described Chabane as a man of many attributes.
“There are ministers who are going to be permanently here to arrange with the family everything that is going to be done. We hope we will mourn with dignity,” said Zuma, who was flanked by several cabinet ministers.
“We are saddened, shocked, but we have to accept the reality. We have to try to be strong, all of us. We have lost a comrade, a minister with great attributes and qualities.”
Chabane and his two bodyguards, Lesiba Sekele and Lawrence Lentsoane were killed in a car accident on the N1 highway between Mokopane and Polokwane on Sunday.
Zuma said Chabane made a significant contribution while serving in different portfolios of the South African government.
“The country must join his family in mourning and celebrate his life, which he spent very well. He fought for the liberation and development of this country,” Zuma said.
Zuma said he had a very close relationship with Chabane, describing him as a son, and he extended condolences to Chabane’s wife, Mavis, as well as to the families of the two bodyguards killed in the crash.
He went on to describe Chabane as a man of astute character.
“He has contributed to a great extent and we would like to say the country must really join the family in mourning in dignity. To me he was like a son. I had known him since he was 17. I was part of those who made him join the ANC,” President Zuma said.
Earlier the North West premier said that Chabane’s death is a great loss to the country.
Mahumapelo said Chabane's untimely death robbed the country of a selfless and devoted leader.
He encouraged provincial government employees to promote good governance in all aspects of the public service to honour Chabane.
“We must continue, in memory of this leader, to ensure accurate and complete adherence to the prescripts governing this sector of government, and prioritise monitoring and evaluation as a fundamental and strategic function in the public service.”
KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu said that Chabane’s death is a loss to the nation, his family, and the African National Congress.
“There is no amount of words that can describe the collective grief of the people of KwaZulu-Natal when [this] news broke out”, he said.
“He was a very dedicated minister and cadre of our movement. [This is] unexpected news and has left us with shock and sadness.”
He said he hoped the transport department would conduct a thorough investigation to determine the actual cause of the accident.
Sapa and ANA