By: Nosipho Haya-Komisa
Condolences are pouring in following the death of the controversial former Eastern Cape agriculture and a senior member of the ruling party Max Mamase. He died on Monday morning at a private hospice Lyly Kirchmann Complex in East London aged 68.
Mamase had been at the Complex for more than five years, he has not been well for a long time and it is alleged that he succumbed to a COVID-19 related illness.
BCM News’s attempts to get a comment from the Lily Kirchmann management were fruitless.
Mamase was one of the MECs who served in the provincial cabinet of the late Raymond Mhlaba and former premier Nosimo Bhalindlela. He also occupied various positions in the ANC and SANCO.
Mamase was removed from the Eastern Cape cabinet after he was allegedly involved in the Khangela farming project scandal in Port Elizabeth.
The ANC in the Eastern Cape has conveyed heartfelt condolences to the Mamase family, relatives and friends.
In a statement issued by the ANC spokesperson in the province Gift Ngqondi, said that Mamase has played a pivotal role in the politics of the province.
“Mamase created a platform for the white community groups to have direct access to ANC in exile and he organized the famous IDASA Conference entitled “One City, One Municipality – A Critical Appraisal” in Port Elizabeth which paved the way for the establishment of Port Elizabeth Transitional Council (PE TLC) with its first black Mayor Nceba Faku. “He also played an instrumental role in the birth of the South African National Civic Organization (SANCO),” said Ngqondi.
Ngqondi has praised Mamase for his tireless work and contribution to the struggle to unite South Africans.
“He had contributed immensely to building a new South Africa in all the areas in which he had been deployed in his working life,” said Ngqondi.
Mamase became a member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in 1994 and later on, he was appointed as the MEC of Local Government under the Premiership of the late Raymond Mhlaba. In 1999 he was appointed as MEC of Agriculture.
Speaking to BCM News, member of the Mamase family Luvuyo Mamase said the cause of the death is still unknown as they are still waiting for the outcome of post-mortem.
Luvuyo said that funeral arrangements for Mamase’s funeral will be announced in due course.