Ohm Collins Chabane: 15 April 1960 - 15 March 2015
Minister Ohm Collins Chabane passed away in a car accident on 15 March 2015 together with his protectors Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane and Sergeant Lesiba Sekele, while on their way to Pretoria from Polokwane Limpopo.
Memorial service
Funeral arrangements
Media accreditation
Tributes
Condolence books
Orbituary
Photo gallery: Remembering Minister Collins Chabane
The memorial service for Minister Chabane was held on Thursday, 19 March 2015 at 12h00, Tshwane Events Centre (formerly known as Pretoria Show Grounds), 205 Soutter Street, Pretoria.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a keynote address, in which he described the late Minister Collins Chabane as one of the leading pioneers of our new democratic dispensation.
Programme for the memorial service
Funeral
The late Minister was laid to rest on Saturday, 21 March 2015, at Xikundu village, Malamulele in the Vhembe District, Limpopo, in an official funaral Category 1.
President Zuma delivered the eulogy.
The President has ordered that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag posts in the Republic on Saturday, 21 March 2015 the day of the funeral.
The funeral arrangements of Minister Chabane's protectors, Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane and Sergeant Lesiba Sekele, were handled by the South African Police Service (SAPS) as they died in the line of duty.
Programme for the funeral service
Members of the media are invited to apply for their accreditation with ireen@gcis.gov.za or 082 440 5656 ot Tshegofatso Modubu 083 276 0786.
The Department of Communications (GCIS) will facilitate the collection of the media accrediations. Members of the media are requested to bring their identity documents (ID) or press cards to collect their accreditation.
Deputy Minister Ayanda Dlodlo: Tribute to the late Minister Collins Chabane
Xikundu community mourns the passing away of Minister Collins Chabane [PDF]
Minister Jeff Radebe: Chabane leaves a lasting legacy
South Africans have been invited to pay their respects to the late Minister of Public Service and Administration, Collins Chabane, by signing the condolence books which will be placed at various sites across the country.
Condolence books will be placed at:
- Union Buildings, Government Avenue, Pretoria
- Tuynhuys, Cape Town
- Department of Communications, 1035 Francis Baard Street, Hatfield
- Department of Public Service and Administration, 116 Johannes Ramokhoase Street, Pretoria
- School of Government (formerly known as Palama), ZK Matthews Building, 70 Meintje Street, Sunnyside
- Office of the Premier, Polokwane.
Members of the public are also encouraged to send messages to communication@presidency.gov.za. All messages will be collated into a book, which will be delivered to the Chabane family.
The e-mail service will be open until Sunday, 22 March 2015. The social media campaign on Twitter and Facebook will run until Sunday, 22 March 2015. Members of the public are requested to use the following accounts @PresidencyZA on Twitter and the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa Facebook page. The hashtag to be used is #RIPMinChabane.
Minister Chabane was a humble, disciplined, passionate and dedicated member of the Executive. He was truly devoted to his work of improving the lives of the people of South Africa. He was an intellectual giant with a great understanding of what we had to do to free our people from poverty. Minister Chabane was a humble person who would never put himself forward for anything as he often said “if I am doing something good, people will be the ones to tell”.
He was a gallant member of the African National Congress (ANC) and our liberation struggle, which he joined at the age of 17 years. He went into exile in May 1980 and underwent military training with uMkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC. He was later arrested and served a term on Robben Island from 1984 to 1990. He was popularly known by his guerrilla name as Tom or iSilwane/animal or warrior.
He dedicated his life to liberate the people of South Africa from the evil system of apartheid. Even in democracy, he continued to play a central role in ensuring that the lives of all our people are improved for the better and that they enjoy the fruits of our freedom.
Minister Chabane never lost contact with his roots; he met his untimely death while returning from the funeral of a local Chief Albert Magona of Malamulele in his home village in Limpopo.
Prior to being appointed Minister of Public Service and Administration in 2014, Minister Chabane was Minister in the Presidency responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.
He was responsible for the establishment of the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation function in The Presidency. During his tenure in the Presidency he supported the President in monitoring the performance of government including the introduction of performance agreements between Ministers and the President. He was also the Minister responsible for the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).
He distinguished himself as a Member of the Executive Council resulting in receiving an award for his administrative role in the Limpopo Provincial Administration. He served as the Member of the Executive Council for Public Works and later Economic Development, Environment and Tourism in Limpopo.
Minister Chabane also served as a member of the National Executive of the ANC since 1991 and from 2007 was elected to the National Working Committee.
He was a keen and passionate golfer and a recorded musician with his group Movement. He was honoured for his contribution to indigenous music by the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO). He will be remembered for his great sense of humour, humility and hard work.
Minister Chabane is survived by his wife Mavis Chabane and two children.
Remembering Minister Collins Chabane
