Farewell to sports dynamo

to the South African Football Association (Safa) when it was riddled with problems.

“He loved development and he once said that, while we were fighting over positions, children who wanted to play sport were suffering.”

Delivering a tribute on behalf of the sport, recreation, arts and culture department where Klaas worked, Zuko Baninzi said death had robbed them of a valued colleague.

“You have robbed us of an agent of change, an advisor and a foot soldier of service delivery.”

Public sector sport chairman in the region Sithembele Maseko said: “Xolile was one of the people who initiated this programme of public sector employees participating actively in sport. This will make employees participate actively in the agenda of the employer.”

Chris Hani Sports Council regional chairman Phumelele Hlati said when the Lukhanji Football Association (LFA) was in trouble, he got to know that Klaas was a man with whom one could go to war.

“He lived football. He had a vision and he knew what he wanted football to look like. We are happy he dedicated his last days to sport.”

Nehawu regional chairman No- luthando Masango said Klaas understood leadership was not about position but about function. Klaas never went to a meeting without researching items on the agenda.

Those in attendance included Lukhanji executive mayor Nozi Makanda and Chris Hani District Municipality integrated planning and economic development political head Ray Shweni.