Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota has expressed condolences to the family of Secretary of Defence, January Masilela, who died in a car crash at the weekend.
Lekota and a delegation from the department visited Masilela’s family on Monday, said the department’s spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi on Tuesday.
Masilela died in a car accident on the N4 highway near Bronkhorstspruit on Sunday. It appears that he lost control of his vehicle. He died at the scene.
Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), General Godfrey Ngwenya, also extended his condolences to the family.
Masilela, who is survived by a wife, five children and three grandchildren, joined the department in December 1999.
As head of the department, he played an important role in the signing of various international agreements.
Born in Middelburg, Mpumalanga on February 23 1955, Masilela went into exile in countries including Cuba and Angola.
He was a commissar (deputy commander) at the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) headquarters in Angola, and chairperson of the regional political military council in Botswana.
Parliament’s committees for defence praised Masilela for the role he played in strengthening the SANDF.
The portfolio committee on defence and the joint standing committee on defence both described his death as ”tragic and untimely”.
African National Congress spokesperson (ANC) Jessie Duarte said Masilela’s death had robbed the country of a ”committed patriot”.
Masilela served as a member of the national executive committee of the party from 1992 to 2002.
”Throughout his life, Masilela worked to uphold the values and advance the objectives of the liberation movement. He was prepared to undertake any tasks given to him.
”The ANC salutes the memory of Che Masilela, whose contribution to the people of South Africa will never be forgotten,” said Duarte.
Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils said Masilela understood the importance of education and the hard work that was needed to bring about change in the country.
”His knowledge and experience will be sorely missed in the security cluster and government as a whole, as well as in the ANC,” said Kasrils.
Director general in the presidency Reverend Frank Chikane also conveyed his condolences to the family.
”Masilela left a legacy of hard work and sound ethics and will be sorely missed,” said Chikane.
The Democratic Alliance described Masilela’s death as a ”great shock”.
”The DA learned with great shock of the passing away of Masilela, under tragic circumstances. We wish to convey our heartfelt sympathies to his bereaved family and wish them God’s strength. We pray for their well-being through this trying period of grief,” said the party.
The South African Communist Party described Masilela as a ”humble servant of the people”.
”Comrade Che had dedicated his life to fighting injustice and bettering the lives of the people of our country,” said the party in a statement.
The 53-year-old also served as secretary on the party’s Mpumalanga provincial executive committee.
”Our condolences to his family, friends and comrades,” said the party’s Malesela Maleka.
The memorial service and the funeral arrangements would be announced once confirmed by the family, said Mkhwanazi. – Sapa