President Cyril Ramaphosa has today (Thursday) announced the death of the Minister in the Presidency. In a statement, President Ramaphosa said it is with deep sorrow and shock that we announce that Minister in the presidency Jackson Mthembu passed away earlier today from Covid related complications. President has extended condolences to Minister Mthembu’s family and friends
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time of loss. Minister Mthembu was an exemplary leader, an activist, and a lifelong champion of freedom and democracy. He was the march loved and greatly respected colleague and comrade whose passing leaves our nation at a loss”, President Ramaphosa said in a statement.
WHO IS JACKSON MTHEMBU
Jackson Mphikwa Mthembu was born on 5 June 1958 in Witbank, Mpumalanga. He began his political career as a student leader at Elukhanyisweni Secondary School in Witbank during the 1976 students’ uprisings.
After finishing his formal education, he became involved in the trade union sector in the 1980s. It was during this time that he was arrested and charged with sabotage, treason & terrorism between 1986 and 1988, and tried together with 30 other activists from Witbank.
After the unbanning of political parties in 1990, he was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Witbank branch of the African National Congress (ANC). Between 1990 – 1994, he worked full-time as ANC spokesman in Mpumalanga and participated as an ANC staff component at the CODESA negotiations.
He was the national spokesperson of the ANC under President Nelson Mandela from 1995 – 1997, appointed to the same role again from 2009 – 2014. He served as the Chief Whip of the ANC in the National Assembly from 2016 up to the end of the 5th term of parliament in 2019. After the 2019 national and general elections, he was appointed as the Minister in the Presidency.
