Cape Town – Minister of Public Service and Administration Collins Chabane has died in a car crash in the early hours of Sunday morning, the Presidency has confirmed.

“President Jacob Zuma is saddened to announce the untimely death of the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr Collins Chabane in a car crash in the early hours of this morning,” said spokesman Mac Maharaj in a statement.

Zuma was shocked by Chabane’s death.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this untimely death of an outstanding cadre of our liberation struggle and a competent, accomplished and dependable member of my Cabinet,” said Zuma.

“This is a huge loss to government and the country as a whole.”

Chabane was previously the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.

“A veteran of the liberation struggle, Mr Chabane was also a long serving member of the ANC National Executive Committee,” said Maharaj.

Minister Collins Chabane dies in car crash http://t.co/al3FIHj5Iw

— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) March 15, 2015

#CollinsChabane His official vehicle collided with a truck that made a U-turn on the highway. MR

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 15, 2015

South Africans took to social media to express their shock and sadness at Chabane’s untimely death.

Truly shaken by the death of Minister Collins Chabane. 2015 has not been kind to us thus far. #RestinPeace

— Motheo Mtimkulu (@londons_kid) March 15, 2015

What is this I hear about Minister Collins Chabane?! I adore that man! No ways….. It can’t be true!!!!

— Rakhale’s Bae ♥ (@Khencie) March 15, 2015

– News24 and Sapa