Former Newcastle Local Municipality mayor and KwaZulu-Natal legislator Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba has died after being struck by a vehicle while jogging in Newcastle on Saturday morning.
The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal confirmed his death in a statement.
“It is with profound shock, shattering grief, and an overflowing sense of revolutionary heartbreak that the African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal announces the sudden and tragic passing of one of its most vibrant, dedicated, and battle-tested servants, Cde Dr Nkululeko Ntuthuko Mahlaba.”
The party said Mahlaba died after a road accident during his morning jog.
“He met his untimely and tragic end early this morning following a horrific road accident when he was struck by a vehicle while jogging in Newcastle.”
The ANC described his death as a devastating loss to the organisation and the broader liberation movement.
“The news of his sudden departure has cast a dark, painful, and impenetrable cloud over the entire province and the broader liberation movement. We are frozen in disbelief that a life so full of vigour, promise, and revolutionary commitment could be extinguished so abruptly.”
At the time of his death, Mahlaba was serving as a member of the ANC’s Provincial Task Team, a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and Chairperson of Committees, also known as the Chair of Chairs.
He previously served as executive mayor of Newcastle Local Municipality and as KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, as well as Public Works and Human Settlements.
ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Sifiso Sonjica said Mahlaba had also served as long-standing regional chairperson of the ANC in the Mbuso Kubheka Region, formerly eMalahleni, as well as provincial treasurer and former chairperson of the ANC Youth League in the province.
“Death has robbed us of a revolutionary doctor, a fearless youth leader, and a disciplined cadre who commanded the respect of friends and political foes alike. We have lost a titan of the working class. Cde Dr Mahlaba’s life was a masterclass in organic leadership.”
Sonjica said Mahlaba dedicated his life to both medicine and public service.
“As a medical doctor by profession, he chose to heal both the physical bodies of our people in public hospitals and the socio-economic wounds of his community through the radical programmes of the ANC.”
He said Mahlaba played a key role in strengthening the ANC in northern KwaZulu-Natal and left a lasting legacy in local government and provincial administration.
“His leadership of the Mbuso Kubheka Region solidified the ANC’s footprint in the hinterlands of our province. He led from the front, serving previously as the Executive Mayor of Newcastle Local Municipality and later as a provincial MEC, leaving an indelible mark on infrastructure development and community upliftment.”
Sonjica said Mahlaba’s most recent role in the provincial legislature reflected his commitment to accountability and good governance.
“His latest deployment as Chair of Chairs in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature demonstrated absolute fairness, parliamentary astuteness, and an unshakeable adherence to holding governance accountable to the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal.”
The ANC extended its condolences to Mahlaba’s wife, Dr Busi Mahlaba, their children, family, friends and colleagues.
“The ANC KZN extends its deepest, most heartfelt condolences to his beloved family, his wife Dr Busi Mahlaba, their children, the comrades of the Mbuso Kubheka Region, and the millions of South Africans whose lives he touched as a healthcare practitioner and a political leader.”
The party appealed to the public and the media to respect the family’s privacy as they mourn his passing.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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