South African Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, passed away on Thursday due to COVID-19 related complications, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said.
This follows announcement few days ago that Mthembu was going into self-isolation after contracting COVID-19.
South Africa had recorded 647 coronavirus-related deaths in a 24-hour period, pushing the total number of confirmed fatalities to 39,501.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time of loss. Minister Mthembu was an exemplary leader, an activist and life-long champion of freedom and democracy,” said the president.
He stated that Mthembu’s death is a lot to the nation as he was loved and greatly respected.
Ramaphosa sent a message of condolences to Mthembu’s family, friends and colleagues.
Mthembu was a seasoned politician, who served in various portfolios. Previously, he served as the Whip of Parliament for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and as well as the national spokesperson for the ANC.
Meanwile, South Africa recorded 647 coronavirus-related deaths in a 24-hour period, pushing the total number of confirmed fatalities to 39,501, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced late Thursday.
Mkhize said 11,381 new infections were also detected in the same period after testing 58,540 samples, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 1,380,807.
He said the new deaths were recorded in the coastal province of Kwa-Zulu Natal with 154 fatalities, Eastern Cape with 139 deaths, and Gauteng (which includes Capital Pretoria and economic hub Johannesburg) with 93.
Other deaths were reported in the Free State province at 17, Limpopo 27, Mpumalanga 17, North West 55 and Northern Cape eight, while the tourism hub of Western Cape lost 137 people to COVID-19.
“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who treated these patients,” Mkhize said while delivering his daily COVID-19 report.
Mkhize said South Africa has so far conducted nearly 8 million COVID-19 tests. Meanwhile, at least 1,183,443, people have recovered from the deadly respiratory illness, representing a recovery rate of 85.7%.
South Africa, currently battling a second wave of the pandemic, has the highest number of cases and deaths on the continent. The nation is also the 15th most affected country globally.
