adminJohannesburg – South African Minister of Public Service and Administration Collins Chabane and two his bodyguards Sergeant Lesiba Sekele and Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane were killed instantly when a truck did a U-turn in front of their car on the N1 in Polokwane, ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said yesterday.
“It happened in the early hours of this (Sunday) morning, around 01:00 on the N1 Polokwane. He died instantly with his two protectors,” national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.
“Apparently the truck made a U-turn as they were driving and they collided with the truck.”
Kodwa said Chabane was one of the “most committed cadres” of the ANC’s struggle movement.
Chabane was an all-rounder who was good in sport as well as a good lawyer.
“(He was) very disciplined, very dedicated in terms of his work, very focused.”
“He played an important role in the development of the ANC constitution and equally played a role in the development of South Africa’s constitution.”
“He followed and understood our principle . . . we are serving the people, not us,” Kodwa said.
President Jacob Zuma was shocked by Chabane’s death.
“We’re deeply shocked and saddened by this untimely death of an outstanding cadre of our liberation struggle and a competent, accomplished and dependable member of my Cabinet,” said Zuma.
“This is a huge loss to government and the country as a whole.”
Meanwhile, political parties are mourning the death of their colleague, Chabane.
When will government and we as a nation stand up and #DO something about the thousands of people killed on our roads?
DA Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane has sent his condolences to both the Chabane family and the ANC.
“I always found him to be reasonable, I found him to be a man who wanted to put South Africa first.”
The truck driver has been charged with culpable homicide.
The United Democratic Front (UDM) says the accident has robbed South Africa of an extraordinary leader with passion.
Congress of the People’s (Cope)’s Dennis Bloom says he will be missed at the national legislature.
“We’re deeply shaken, as no doubt, so will be his family and the whole country.”
The ANC has remembered Chabane as an all-rounder, making waves in politics, sport and on the music scene.
Spokesperson for National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete, Mandlakazi Sigcawu, says Chabane played an important role in building South Africa’s democracy from the ranks of the ANC and in the national legislature.
“We wish to express our shock and deep sadness at the sudden passing of Minister Collins Chabane. Chabane became a member of the first democratic Parliament National Assembly in 1994 and he served in several parliamentary committees.”
Traffic began flowing normally in Johannesburg in the late afternoon yesterday along the N1 between Mokopane and Polokwane at the scene where Chabane was killed,
Authorities closed the road and diverted motorists along the R101 for nearly 15 hours while police, a scene investigator and traffic officials inspected the area.
Several politicians also visited the accident scene.
Workers at filling stations along the busy N1 route said there was no business since they reported for duty in the morning.
Business started to pick up at 15:00 after a tow truck came to collect the remains of Chabane’s car.
Meanwhile, the ANC in Limpopo has suspended its programme to mourn the deaths of Chabane and his bodyguards.
Police have arrested the truck driver. He faced charges of culpable homicide. Blood was drawn from him to test for alcohol. He would appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
Dozens of government leaders visited Chabane’s family at Xikundu near Kruger National Park to convey their condolences. – Sapa
Bongani Ndlovu