Minister Chabane killed in car crash on N1
The Presidency has confirmed Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane has been killed in a car accident this morning.
POLOKWANE – The Presidency has confirmed Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane has been killed in a car accident this morning.
The accident happened on the N1 between Polokwane and Mokopane.
Minister of Public Service and Administration Collins Chabane was killed in a car accident early on Sunday morning, the presidency said.
“President Jacob Zuma is saddened to announce the untimely death of the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr Collins Chabane in a car crash in the early hours of this morning,” said spokesman Mac Maharaj in a statement.
Zuma was shocked by Chabane’s death.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this untimely death of an outstanding cadre of our liberation struggle and a competent, accomplished and dependable member of my Cabinet,” said Zuma.
“This is a huge loss to government and the country as a whole.”
Chabane was previously the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.
“A veteran of the liberation struggle, Mr Chabane was also a long serving member of the ANC National Executive Committee,” said Maharaj.
Chabane and two body guards were reportedly killed instantly when a truck did a U-turn in front of their car on the N1 in Polokwane
“It happened in the early hours of this [Sunday] morning, around 1am on the N1 Polokwane. He died instantly with his two protectors,” national spokesman Zizi Kodwa said.
“Apparently the truck made a U-turn as they were driving and they collided with the truck.”
Limpopo police later said a case of culpable homicide was opened against the truck driver involved in the crash. The driver will appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 17 March 2015.
“We opened a case of culpable homicide that will be investigated,” said Colonel Ronel Otto.
“He was not arrested. We will investigate and take the dockets to court when it’s finalised for a decision.”
The truck driver was not injured in the accident.
“[The accident] took place at round about 1am between Polokwane and Mokopane, about 30km away from Polokwane,” said Otto.
“According to preliminary information the truck was making a u-turn on the highway, when the vehicle carrying the minister crashed into it.”
Via Sapa/Citizen
