Picture: (The late MEC of Social Development Kgakgamatso Nkewu) 

BY REGINALD KANYANE

COMMISERATION messages continue to pour in to North West MEC of Social Development department, Kgakgamatso Nkewu’s family and friends after her tragic death. Nkewu died in a terrible car accident on Friday near Vryburg while on her way to Taung from Mahikeng.

She was supposed to join ANC deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa and other members who were at Molelema village in Taung for door-to-door local government elections campaign.

Provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said the car that Nkewu was travelling in rolled several times after they collided with a cyclist.

“The car rolled several times and caught fire. Nkewu was thrown out of the vehicle and her two VIP protectors suffered injuries. They were admitted at Joe Morolong hospital in Vryburg and the cyclist and Nkewu were certified dead on the scene,” Setswambung said.

North West provincial legislature speaker, Sussana Dantjie extended her heartfelt condolences on the passing of Nkewu.

“We send our deepest sympathy to her family, friends, and the African National Congress and Bokone Bophirima people at large. May God give you the comfort and peace that you seek. May the soul of our beloved Comrade Kgakgi rest in peace,” Dantjie said.

Rustenburg local municipality executive mayor, Mpho Khunou said: “It is with pain and sorrow that I on behalf of people of Rustenburg convey my heartfelt condolences for the sudden death of the late Bokone Bophirima social development MEC, Kgakgamatso Nkewu. May her soul rest in eternal peace.”

ANCWL provincial secretary, Bridgette Mogakwe said they were saddened by the sudden death of their provincial deputy chairperson. Mogakwe said the late Nkewu was also a provincial treasurer of the ANC in the province.

“Her death came at the time when the ANCWL in the province was still celebrating her deployment as MEC for social development. However, we will continue to celebrate because her death came when she had already made notable strides in only two months in her office as MEC.

“We would like to send our deepest condolences to the family of comrade Nkewu. We promise to stand by the family in prayers and hoping that this pain of losing their loved one will not shake their religion and trust in God. We would also like to send our heartfelt condolences to the cyclist who also died during the same accident. We also hope that the two protectors who sustained injuries recover speedily,” Mogakwe said.

She added that all ANCWL programmes in North West will be suspended in order to focus on the preparations of the funeral. Mogakwe said the funeral arrangements were underway and the public will be informed in due course.

The late Nkewu originates from Molelema village in Taung. She served as ward 15 councillor in Greater Taung local municipality and she was appointed as a municipal speaker from 2006 to 2010. Nkewu was also appointed as Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) at GTLM. She was appointed as MPL in North West provincial legislature in December 2015. A 44 year-old deceased also served as treasurer for ANC in the province and she was also a provincial deputy chairperson for ANCWL.

Nkewu’s family spokesperson, Jeffrey Mohitlhi said they lost a daughter, a sister and a mother.

“We were shocked to hear about the news and we rushed to the scene. We were communicating with her on her way and she was excited to visit her childhood area. We hope that God will be with us and give us serenity in these trying times,” Mohitlhi said.

-TDN

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