BCM speaker succumbs to coronavirus
‘It is a clarion call for the province to strengthen efforts to fight Covid-19.’
Helen Sauls-August
Legislature speaker
Buffalo City Metro speaker Alfred Mtsi lost his battle with a Covid-19 related illness yesterday morning.
Mtsi was admitted to hospital on Tuesday night and died in the early hours of yesterday.
BCM mayor Xola Pakati said it was tragic to lose the “humble, soft-spoken yet decisive and visionary leader of the people of the Eastern Cape and Buffalo City Metro”.
“We wish to send our condolences to the Mtsi family, and we call on all residents of the city to put the family in their thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult moment.
“The departure of comrade Mtsi has made itself felt.
“Already the air is so still without his soft voice,” Pakati said.
“This is extremely depressing and devastating for me.
“I was closely bonded with comrade Mtsi.”
Mtsi’s death comes within a week of those of BCM councillors Gideon Norexe and Zukiswa Mankayi, who also succumbed to Covid-19.
Legislature speaker Helen Sauls-August, paying her own tribute to Mtsi, said: “His death is a huge loss to the legislative sector and the Eastern Cape.
“It is a clarion call for the province to strengthen efforts to fight Covid-19.”
Mtsi previously served as an MPL, working in the office of the speaker as chair of the portfolio committee of chairs in the fifth term of the legislature.
Prior to his death he was a member of the provincial speakers’ forum, a legislative sector body constituted by speakers from municipalities and the legislature.
Family spokesperson Humphrey Maxegwana said: “The family is still struggling to come to terms with what happened.
“We were hopeful that he was recovering. It is painful.
“He was the pillar and strength of the family.
“We appreciate people paying their last respects.”
He said the funeral would be held “within three to four days” and would comply with lockdown regulations.
“He will be buried in East London.”
A number of public representatives are fighting for their lives in hospitals, and others have succumbed.
There are those who have managed to defeat the virus, however.
Statistics provided by the
Eastern Cape department of co-operative governance & traditional affairs show that in 26 of the province’s 39 municipalities, 11 councillors have lost their lives to the virus among more than 50 who have been infected.
A councillor at Port St Johns municipality, Zamile Totwana, and another at Mhlontlo municipality, Patrick Mdinwa, died last week.
Engcobo council speaker
Skosana Mbolo died on June 30. The municipality’s mayor, Siyabulela Zangqa, recovered after becoming infected.
Mnquma municipality spokesperson Loyiso Mpalantshane said the death of Mnquma building manager “Bra Power” Ntunja had come as a huge shock.
“He will be sorely missed,” he said.
At Raymond Mhlaba municipality, ANC PR councillor Thembisa Dwaya lost her life on June 27, while Ncedile Meleni, a ward councillor at Kouga local municipality, died last month.
In the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, four senior councillors are in isolation after recently testing positive.
Provincial mayors, including OR Tambo district mayor Thokozile Sokanyile and King Sabata Dalindyebo mayor
Nyaniso Nelani, also tested positive but have since recovered.
Provincial Cogta spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam said a councillor in Chris Hani district municipality had recovered after contracting Covid-19. A traditional leader serving in that council is still in quarantine.
Ngam said four councillors at Enoch Mgijima municipality had tested positive, while two had overcome their illness.
“In Sakhisizwe local municipality, one councillor tested positive but has since recovered, and at Intsika Yethu municipality a councillor has recovered,” Ngam said.
ANC provincial spokesperson Gift Ngqondi said the party was devastated at the loss of a number of public representatives, yet relieved that “tens” of others had recovered.