Thokozile Mnguni
Former Newcastle Mayor Dr Nkululeko Ntuthuko Mahlaba has passed away after he was struck by a vehicle while jogging.
At the time of his passing, Mahlaba was serving as a member of the African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Task Team. He was also a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature (MPL).
He served as Chairperson of Committees, also known as the Chair of Chairs, in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.
ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial spokesperson Sifiso Sonjica said the party was deeply saddened by Mahlaba’s sudden passing.
“The news of Cde Dr Mahlaba’s sudden departure has cast a dark, painful, and impenetrable cloud over the entire province and the broader liberation movement. We are frozen in disbelief that a life so full of vigour, promise, and revolutionary commitment could be extinguished so abruptly at the dawn of the morning,” said Sonjica.
Mahlaba previously served as KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture. He also served as MEC for Public Works and Human Settlements.
Earlier in his career, he served in local government, where he worked to address the challenges facing communities in the district.
Sonjica described Mahlaba as a longstanding leader within the ANC who held several senior positions throughout his political career.
“He was a foundational pillar of the Provincial Leadership, the long-standing and undisputed Chairperson of the ANC in the Mbuso Kubheka Region (formerly eMahlahleni), and a former fearless Chairperson of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and the former ANC Provincial Treasurer,” he said.
Reflecting on Mahlaba’s contribution to the party and the country, Sonjica said: “Death has robbed us of a revolutionary doctor, a fearless youth leader, and a disciplined cadre who commanded the respect of friends and political foes alike. We have lost a titan of the working class. Comrade Dr Mahlaba’s life was a masterclass in organic leadership. Rising through the fiery ranks of student politics, he was a leader who never outsourced his revolutionary responsibilities.”
Sonjica said Mahlaba combined his work as a medical doctor with a commitment to public service and politics.
“As a medical doctor by profession, Dr Mahlaba chose to heal both the physical bodies of our people in public hospitals and the socio-economic wounds of his community through the radical programmes of the ANC.
“As a former ANCYL Chairperson, he infused the youth movement with radical intellect, energy, and an unyielding commitment to the economic emancipation of young people.
“His leadership of the Mbuso Kubheka Region solidified the ANC’s footprint in the hinterlands of our province. He led from the front, leaving an indelible mark on infrastructure development and community upliftment,” Sonjica added.
He said Mahlaba’s most recent role as Chair of Chairs in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature reflected his commitment to public accountability.
“In his latest deployment as Chair of Chairs in the KZN Legislature, he demonstrated absolute fairness, parliamentary astuteness, and an unshakeable adherence to holding governance accountable to the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal.”
Sonjica said the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal extends its “deepest, most heartfelt, and revolutionary condolences” to Mahlaba’s wife, Dr Busi Mahlaba, their children, the comrades of the Mbuso Kubheka Region, and the millions of South Africans whose lives he touched as both a healthcare practitioner and political leader.
Police opened a case of culpable homicide to investigate the incident.