Deputy Speaker, Hon Uhuru Moiloa
Deputy Chair of Chairs, Hon Valentine Mbatha
Premier, Hon Nomvula Mokonyane
Leaders of Political Parties
Hon. Members of the Executive Council
Hon Members of the GPL
Members of the bereaved families
Ladies and gentlemen
As I stand here on this platform I can only sense the sombre mood amongst us, a mood that we have been involuntary manacled into, since the 20th of July 2013. It feels as if a grey cloud has hovered over us, hiding sunshine, bringing only rain in the form of tears. Our hearts are lingering in agony, desolation and despair; and as we try to pick up the pieces, we wonder what tomorrow brings as the present has been rather hostile.
Our tears keep falling from our tired eyes and our postures reflect the heaviness we carrying as we attempt to deal with grief caused by the heart throbbing loss of our Members, Hon. MEC Nkosiphendulile Kolisile and Hon Dr Gavin Lewis so abruptly in such a short space of time.
Today, we have convened this special sitting to pay tribute to our honourable Members and to this end their seats in the House have been covered in black cloth. This is our practice to honour Members of this House who have passed on.
Members, Colleagues, Families of the bereaved, members of the community- the untimely death of Hon. MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile left us all in astonishment, bewildered and frantically attempting to make sense of this catastrophe. With such swift, no deterrence and brutality; death robbed three families of fathers, hard workers, husbands and a nation of ardent public servants.
An accident which probably ended in a matter of minutes shattered a life time and stole from the future of this country. Three souls Hon MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile, his bodyguard Tebogo Motsie, and Driver Tshepo Jobo were no more. Nothing could have prepared us for this ill-fated tragedy; no amount of words can comfort us from this anguish. Hon. MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile devoted and committed his life to the community of Gauteng.
He diligently served in the GPL from April 2009 where he served as a Member in Economic Affairs, Community Safety and the GEYODI Committees. He was later appointed as the Chairperson of the Economic Development Committee, a committee and sector he was unequivocally passionate about. We were anticipating so much more from him.
This particular sector touched his true core as man who had staunch communist ideals and was always ready to fight for the advancement of the working class and the poor. It came as no surprise that he would subsequently lead a department on Economic development. His work asserts that he hit the ground running and in his short tenure ensured that there is radical transformation on ensuring that the department continues to serve the most deserving in our communities.
Hon. MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile touched our lives in various ways, his candour, humble demeanour and ability to connect with everyone despite convictions made him distinct. Even as he moved into various echelons, this at no point shadowed or conceded his principles and values. Indeed we have been robbed of an astute example of a young pioneer who had more to offer to the nation, and who lived and practised the principle of “Batho Pele”. His death brings a quote to mind by Mark Twain “The fear of death follows the fear of life. A man who lives life fully is prepared to die at any time”.
In his short tenure Hon. MEC Kolisile did indeed live his life fully; the testimonies are well placed with his family, the people of Merafong, his community in the Eastern Cape and the lives he has touched in Gauteng. As we were coming to terms with the MEC’s sudden passing, we were faced with yet another untimely passing of Hon. Dr Gavin Lewis. As I indicated earlier Honourable Members, it felt as if a dark cloud is hovering upon us, testing every bit of strength we have. The most saddening part about Dr Lewis’ passing on is that it happened a day after the Lewis family had buried their mother. I cannot begin to comprehend the pain suffered by the Lewis family.
In such a short space of time, we yet lost another soul in the GPL; a diligent, experienced and devoted member of the GPL, who has served with honour, grace and dignity. Ironically both Members had served quiet extensively in economic development.
On a lighter note maybe the Department of Economic Development in the heavens was vacant and God was recruiting the best. And indeed these were our best soldiers. Hon Dr Gavin Lewis had immense experience to disseminate not only as a Member but a public servant. His astounding passion for education is evidenced in his qualifications and extensive experience; something I have no doubt he imparted to generations after him. He served the Legislature from 2009 and any Member who has worked with him can attest to his intellectual astuteness, preciseness and passion for Finance and economics.
It’s a great loss indeed not only for us, as the institution but the wealth of experience and commitment to the future. We are only human and we can’t escape grief, however let us embrace the time we have had with our fallen
Members, let their memories live on and lets ensure that their commitment and devotion as public servants doesn’t whither off. We must now take the baton and do justice to the lives they lived to the fullest and the work they did.
On behalf of the GPL, I send my condolences to the Kolisile, Lewis, Motsie and Jobo family. Your loss is indeed greater than ours; you have known them better, more intimately and have had the fondest memories of them. We thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives through them, we salute you for giving us such men of honour to serve the people of Gauteng and may God comfort you in these trying times.
May their souls rest in peace.
Enquiries:
Gugu Ndima
Spokesperson
Tel: 011 498 9500
Cell: 076 783 1516
E-mail: gndima@gpl.gov.za
