A political giant has fallen, political parties pay tribute to Jackson Mthembu
Political parties have hailed former Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu as a man of integrity.
The political fraternity paid tribute to the passing of Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu.
Mthembu died of Covid-19 related complications on Thursday.
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen says Mthembu was a man of integrity.
"We have lost a generous man with a big heart and even a bigger sense of humour.
"I knew him as a man of integrity and someone who managed to see a bigger picture to a greater cause. He was always prepared to do what it takes to find a solution to whatever impasse we might have been facing in the house."
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Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president Floyd Shivambu described Mthembu as a politician you cannot corrupt.
“Minister Mthembu was amongst the very few incorruptible leaders in government. We are not saying all of these things because minister Mthembu has passed away, we worked with him very well when he was a Chief Whip of the majority party.
“Under his guidance of the ANC majority caucus, we were able to build a consensus among black political parties to pass a resolution that we must amend Section 25 of the constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation.”
United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa also lauded Mthembu was his immense contribution to the fall of apartheid.
"Jackson Mthembu has contributed a lot in the struggle of South Africa and when he was in Mpumalanga, he was the face responsible for promoting the ANC in that world.
"He rose to the ranks up to the level of a cabinet minister and I did interact with him in parliament and especially when he became the chairperson of the Portfolio committee on environment."
Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) spokesperson Sizwe Pamla says Mthembu put the country above the interest of the African National Congress (ANC).
"This is a massive loss for the ANC, a massive loss for the alliance, massive loss for the democratic movement, and a country as a whole."
He served as the Chief Whip in 2016 before becoming a member of the executive in the sixth administration.