Pretoria – South Africa’s largest trade union federation, Cosatu, has extended its condolences following the passing of Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane and his two protectors.
Minister Chabane, Sergeants Lesiba Sekele and Lawrence Lenstoane were killed on Sunday in a crash on the N1 in Limpopo.
Cosatu said Minister Chabane -- an ANC National Working Committee (NWC) member, a former Robben Islander, exile, combatant of MK and former MEC of Public Works in Limpopo, among other deployments -- was a brave man who, at a very young age, risked his life for the total emancipation of the oppressed people of South Africa.
“We worked closely with him when he was deployed to lead the Department of Public Service and Administration in 2014 towards the end of Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) Resolution 1 0f 2012 which dealt with the ground-breaking Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS), which was very close to his heart.
“If completed in time, this scheme will be the first integrated and comprehensive housing scheme in the democratic public service,” Cosatu said.
Cosatu described Minister Chabane as someone who was willing to listen and frankly engage with public service unions at any time.
“We never had any problems with him as a comrade and a Minister. At the time of his passing, Minister Chabane was spearheading the last phase of 2014/15 negotiations, which we all confidently think will be concluded by 31 March 2015, and we were looking forward to the signing of an agreement that is going to improve the lives of the public servants. However, fate had other plans.
“Chabane’s death is a huge loss to the country and the continent he served with distinction. As a cadre of our movement, Cde Chabane leaves the responsibility to us all to build the ANC and to revive its core values of unity, selflessness, sacrifice, collective leadership, humility, honesty, discipline, hard work, internal debates, constructive criticism, as well as mutual respect,” Cosatu said.
*Click here to view our online tribute to Minister Chabane. – SAnews.gov.za
