Farewell to a minister

To his only son, the late minister of public service and administration Collins Chabane was "everything a friend could dream of" - a man who taught him to appreciate small things and never to take anything for granted.

Paying tribute to his father during a memorial service in Pretoria yesterday, Matimba Chabane said the accident that claimed the lives of his father and two bodyguards, Sergeant Lesiba Sekele and Lawrence Lentsoane, on Sunday morning in Limpopo had left him shattered.

"Our dad is gone. A colossus has fallen. A great mind, a gentle voice has been silenced. [There are] tears in my eyes because my heart is shattered, tears in my eyes because my heart has not stopped weeping since Sunday," he said.

But, Matimba added: "He never left us, he is in us and he will continue to be because he loves us. Go well Maluleke, Chabane."

Matimba, on behalf of his sister Tsakane and mother Mavis, expressed gratitude for the support the family had received from the government and the general public.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said Chabane's spirit would "continue to reside amongst our people in the villages, townships and indeed across the land. His spirit and his work will compel us not to rest until we have improved their lives."

Ramaphosa said : "Many in public life have been remembered with respect and admiration, but it is rare to find such a universal sense of personal loss for the untimely departure of Chabane ."

Shortly before his death, Chabane visited his old school, Shikundu Primary School in Malamulele, and promised to renovate it.

Ramaphosa said: "We must together honour his commitment and contribute to rebuild his former school."

He assured Chabane's widow that President Jacob Zuma would attend Chabane's official funeral in Xikundu village, Malamulele, Limpopo, tomorrow.

Among the mourners were Nelson Mandela's widow Graça Machel and his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe and African Union chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.