Road carnage claims Minister’s life.
Mary Kugwa
Caption The Late Collins Chabane.
Public Service and Administration Minister, Collins Chabane has died in a car crash in the early hours of the past Sunday. Chabane 54 died along with his two VIP protectors, Sergeant Lesiba Sekele and Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane on the N1 highway close to Polokwane.
Chabane’s car is believed to have collided with a truck that was allegedly making a U-turn on the highway between Gauteng and Limpopo.
The minister is survived by his mother, his wife Mavis Chabane and two children.
President Jacob Zuma, expressed his disbelieve and sadness towards the ministers death.
“We are 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. This is a huge loss to government and the country as a whole’’Zuma said.
A case of culpable homicide has been opened against the truck driver with a full investigation being conducted on the details of the accident.
The truck driver has since been arrested and charged. Officials say, he tested positive for alcohol. The accused was set to appear in Polokwane Magistrate’s court for a preliminary hearing today.
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, mourned the death of Chabane. “We learnt with shock of the untimely passing of Chabane and his two protectors. On behalf of all people in the Gauteng City Region, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, the African National Congress and all the people of South Africa. In him we lost a humble servant of the people who always excelled in positions of responsibility assigned to him. We also extend our condolences to families of his protectors, who were members of the SAPS, Sergeant Lesiba Sekele and Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane,” said Makhura.
Did you know?
Chabane was born in 1960 at Xikundu Village, Limpompo Province.
He was also a long serving member of the ANC National Executive Committee,
At the age of seventeen (17) Chabane joined the ANC and went to exile in May 1980.
In 1984 he was arrested for terrorism and a served six (6) term in Robben Island along with Nelson Mandela.
During his time in prison he obtained a Diploma in Electrical Engineering from Technikon South Africa and studied aviation.
After his release, Chabane was elected to parliament in 1994.
In 1998 Chabane moved to public works, where he was credited for the province’s Road’s Agency.
He also served as the province’s economic development, environment and tourism MEC in 2005.
Chabane developed his interest for music whilst in prison, where he learnt music theory and how to play the harmonica.
Chabane headed a marimba band called Movement and have recorded two CDs to date.
He was honoured for his contribution to indigenous music by the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO).
He was among the team of people who planned and executed former President’s Nelson Mandela’s funeral in December 2013.
Government has announced that a special state official funeral will be held for Chabane and his two VIP protectorsthis weekend.
