South Africa’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Bavumile Vilakazi, died of a heart attack in Kampala on Thursday, Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said.
Dlamini Zuma said in a statement: ”On behalf of President Thabo Mbeki, the government and people of South Africa, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, the children and the entire Vilakazi family during these trying moments.”
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the heart attack occured just after Vilakazi had picked up Deputy President Jacob Zuma from the Kampala airport.
”Attempts were made to resuscitate him and he was rushed to a local hospital in Kampala where he was certified dead on arrival,” said Mamoepa.
Dlamini Zuma was deeply saddened and shocked on learning of Vilakazi’s untimely death.
”Once more death has robbed us of the rich diplomatic experience and skill that Bavumile Vilakazi contributed to our overall work for the renewal of Africa and the creation of a better world.
”Bavumile understood fully well that South Africa could not reach its full potential without the development of the continent of Africa.
”In this regard Bavumile was prepared to sacrifice the comfort of his home in pursuit of the overall objective of advancing the interests of our country at an international level.”
Vilakazi was involved in the United Democratic Front (UDF) Delmas treason trial in 1985 along with former North West premier Popo Molefe and Mosiuoa Lekota, now Minister of Defence.
He was the ANC’s deputy provincial secretary in Gauteng, an ANC member of Parliament, and the first mayor of the Ekurhuleni Metro on the East Rand before being posted to Uganda as High Commissioner. – Sapa