Mineral Resources minister, Gwede Mantashe says the country has lost a brilliant, young mind, in the passing away of Bavelile Hlongwa.
Thirty-eight-year-old Hlongwa died on Friday in a car crash which claimed the lives of four other people on the N1 from Polokwane.
Hlongwa was one of the young appointments made by President Cyril Ramaphosa into his executive earlier this year.
Mantashe says Hlongwa’s strong academic background made her a force to be reckoned with.
Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko says Hlongwa will be honoured with a provincial official funeral and flags will fly at half-mast in the country until Hlongwa is laid to rest.
[Read] Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources #BavelileHlongwa died in a car crash on Friday, the Presidency has announced. The car accident, which took place on the N1 from Polokwane, claimed four other liveshttps://t.co/GLrEkOCyw4 pic.twitter.com/Ch03cGhXyL
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) September 14, 2019
My heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources Bavelile Hlongwa. This is a great loss. She was a passionate and energetic servant always advocating for youth empowerment. pic.twitter.com/XQobJ7609k
— Patricia de Lille (@PatriciaDeLille) September 14, 2019