Cape Town – Parliament’s presiding officers expressed shock and sorrow at the death of Public Service Minister Collins Chabane who died in a car crash on Sunday morning.
“The dedication, humility and good humouredness he displayed in carrying out the various responsibilities assigned to him will be greatly missed,” Parliament said in a statement.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
It said announcements would be made in due course about arrangements to mark Chabane’s passing.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on public service and administration said Chabane’s insight would be missed.
“We will miss his insight, especially within the public service and administration sphere,” said chairwoman Peace Mabe.
“He embodied the spirit of co-operation and respect for the work of the committee. He held in high esteem the values of accountability and was always willing to appear before the committee even on short notice,” she said.
Chabane and his bodyguards Sergeant Lesiba Sekele and Sergeant Lawrence were killed instantly when a truck did a u-turn in front of their car on the N1 near Polokwane in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Cabinet and South Africa had been robbed of a knowledgeable, humble and astute servant of the people, Mabe said.
“The Committee sends its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, colleagues in Cabinet as well as employees within the public service.
“His family must find solace in the fact that he spent most of his life in making South Africa a better place for all to live in.”
The Democratic Alliance expressed shock at the news of Chabane’s death.
“The untimely death of minister Chabane has come as a shock to me and the DA,” DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.
“We also extend our condolences to the ANC, and the friends and loved ones of the Chabane family, who mourn this loss following this horrific tragedy.”
He said the DA mourned the death of Chabane and his two bodyguards.
The SA Communist Party said Chabane’s death was a great loss.
“This great loss occurred at a time when our country is preparing to engage on a second, more radical phase of transformation from colonial and apartheid oppression to a non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous democratic society as envisioned in the Freedom Charter,” SACP general secretary and High Education Minister Blade Nzimande said in a statement.
The party sent its condolences to the Chabane family.
