Gauteng’s MEC of Economic Development Nkosiphendule Kolisile and two others were killed in a car accident.
Kolisile was described as a “committed” public servant, whose dedication to the poor was “admirable”.
Kolisile steered his portfolio with “vigour”.
Kolisile was a former Young Communist League national committee member and former chairperson of the SA Communist Party in Gauteng.
Young Communist League spokesman for the Eastern Cape, Thabang Maseko said on Twitter that South Africa “lost a Marxist over the weekend” and that “Karl Marx would welcome him”.
Kolisile and two bodyguards were killed in a head-on collision in the Free State in the early hours of the morning, according to the SABC.
ANC Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile told the SABC that Kolisile was travelling to a funeral in Queenstown, Eastern Cape when they collided head-on with another vehicle.
Mashatile said Premier Nomvula Mokonyane was with Kolisile’s family.
News of Kolisile’s death sparked reaction from political parties.
The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng described Kolisile as a great addition to the provincial cabinet following a reshuffle.
“[He] had a sterling record in the Gauteng provincial legislature,” DA provincial spokesman Marius Redelinghuys said in a statement. Gauteng is the richest province in the country by far.
The Young Communist League of SA said they were shocked at his the passing.
“As the YCLSA we send our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues and friends,” said spokesman Khaya Xaba.
The family travelled to Reddersburg, 60km south of Bloemfontein, Free State, where the accident happened, to see the place where Kolisile lost his life.
Free State police are investigating a case of culpable homicide in connection with the accident.
The province’s police spokesperson, Sergeant Thabo Litabe, said the accident happened at about 4.30am when a white sedan in which Kolisile and his bodyguards were travelling in swerved to avoid an ambulance only to collide head-on with a truck.
Only the truck driver survived the accident, while the ambulance sped on.
“The truck was travelling towards Bloemfontein while the (MEC’s) sedan was travelling to the Eastern Cape,” Litabe said.
He said the car Kolisile was travelling in was so badly damaged that police could not tell its make or model.
“All of the three occupants in the white sedan died on the scene. The accident was very very bad,” he said. – Sapa