On April 30, 2012, the ANC confirmed the passing of Sicelo Shiceka, 45. ANC spokesperson, Keith Khoza said Shiceka passed away at St Mary’s Private Hospital in Umthatha, in the Eastern Cape. He had been ill since February 2011. Shiceka remained a member of parliament even after being fired from his cabinet post in October 2011.The former Minster was implicated in the abuse of public funds by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. The circumstances surrounding his death will be revealed to the media in the near future.
Shiceka was born in Johannesburg on 8 June 1966. His political career was developed in Gauteng and the former Transvaal structures of the student movement and tripartite alliance. He joined the African National Congress in 1980 when it was banned. He worked in the ANC underground structures. In 1989 he became an organiser for the Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (PPWAWU) and in 1990 was elected to the post of provincial secretary.After the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, Shiceka became deputy chairperson of the Johannesburg inner-city branch of the South African Communist Party (SACP). He was also a member of the provincial executive committee of SACP. In 1992 he was elected provincial secretary of Cosatu. From 1994 to 1999 Shiceka was a Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for Development Planning and Local Government in Gauteng and then joined the National Council of provinces.Before being appointed Minister of Provincial and Local Government by then President Kgalema Motlhante in 2008, he was chairperson of the NCOP’s Select Committee on Local Government, Constitutional Development and Administration. He has played an important role in the development of key local government policies since the 1990s.Shiceka holds a Diploma in Economics from Wharton Business School in Pennsylvania, United State of America (USA) and a Diploma in Labour Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand’s (WITS).
On 3 May, president Jacob Zuma announced that the late Sicelo Shiceka would receive a special official funeral. Spokesperson for the Ministry for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, Harold Maloka said this category of funeral is “reserved for distinguished persons specifically designated by the President of the Republic of South Africa.”
The funeral took place at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg on May 12. He was laid to rest at West Park Cemetery (Hero’s Acre) after the service.Shiceka leaves behind his mother, 19 children, two sisters and a brother.For all the latest news on Shiceka click here.
Watch related video reports below on the passing of Shiceka.
Parliament pays tribute
Tributes pour in
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