South African minister Jackson Mthembu dies of Covid

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Mthembu was one of the foremost leaders of the government in its response to the pandemic and the public face at many Covid-19 press conferences.

“It is with deep sadness and shock that we announce that Prime Minister Jackson Mthembu passed away earlier today from COVID-related complications. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time of loss,” President Ramaphosa tweeted.

“Minister Mthembu was an exemplary leader, activist and lifelong champion of freedom and democracy. He was a much-loved and well-respected colleague and comrade, whose death leaves our country at a loss,” Ramaphosa added.

On January 11, Mthembu tweeted that he had contracted Covid-19.

“Today I visited the Military Hospital in Tshwane to get medical attention for abdominal pain. After undergoing some tests, I tested positive for Covid-19,” he said.

Mthembu then thanked the South Africans who wished him a speedy recovery and said the country must “overcome Covid-19”.

John Steenhuisen, the leader of the Democratic Alliance, the opposition party in South Africa, said he was “devastated” when he heard about the minister’s death.

“It was such an honor to serve alongside this true South African patriot. Condolences to his family and friends and the colleagues in his party,” he said said in a tweet.

Last Wednesday, the South African Ministry of Health reported 1,369,426 cases of Covid-19 and 38,854 deaths.

Ramaphosa extended the country’s coronavirus restrictions on Jan. 11, citing a “massive increase” in Covid-19 cases caused by a variant discovered there last year.
The African Union is securing an additional 270 million doses of Covid vaccines for the continent

In addition to extending the existing measures, Ramaphosa announced that 20 land borders will be closed until February 15.

Mthembu was an anti-apartheid activist who first became involved in politics in the 1970s.
Harassed and intimidated by the apartheid police, he was charged with sabotage, treason and terrorism during the Bethal terrorism trial, but was acquitted, according to the South African presidency website.
Under President Nelson Mandela, he served as the ANC party’s spokesman from 1995-1997 and again from 2009-2014.

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