Condolences pour in for Minister Chabane

Collins Chabane...Rest In Peace. And condolences as well the families and friends of Sergeants Lesiba Sekele and Lawrence Lentsoane. (Image: GCIS)

The Minister and his two protectors - Sgt Lesiba Sekele and Sgt Lawrence Lentsoane - died in a car accident near Polokwane in the early hours of Sunday.

Minister Chabane's name trended on social media sites for most of the day, following a statement from the Presidency confirming that he had passed.

Many have described Minister Chabane as a dedicated public servant.

President Jacob Zuma said he was "an outstanding cadre of our liberation struggle and a competent, accomplished and dependable member of my Cabinet".

The African National Congress said his untimely death had created a void in the organisation and in government.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) said it was deeply saddened by the news of Minister Chabane's death.

SACP General Secretary Blade Nzimande said: "We also send our condolences and message of solidarity to our long standing ally the ANC, to the rest of our liberation movement and Alliance, and to the country as a whole.

"Comrade Collins Chabane, who had sharp analytical skills and was also an artist, will be sorely missed," said Nzimande.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) called the Minister's death tragic and further extended condolences to the Chabane family, his friends, comrades in the ANC and its alliance partners and all South Africans.

"His passing is a huge loss to our movement. COSATU leaders and members at many levels interacted with him over decades and always found him to be friendly, helpful constructive and positive, particularly in the area of making policy and monitoring its implementation.

"His presence will be missed for years to come and we must never forget the debt we owe him," said COSATU.

Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor, Mondli Gungubele, added his voice to those who conveyed condolences to the friends and family of Minister Chabane.

"The Chabane family, the ANC family, government and the country has lost a true servant leader," the mayor said.

Leader of the Official Opposition, the DA's Helen Zille tweeted: "Sincere condolences to the Chabane Family on the loss of their father Collins, a thoughtful and committed Cabinet Minister." Cope and the UDM were also among the non-ANC organisations to express their sense of loss on learning of Chabane's death.