FORMER MKMVA President and ANC veteran Kebby Maphatsoe has passed away, ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
The cause of his death is still unknown.
The ANC Parliamentary Caucus said in a statement on Tuesday that it had learnt with shock and sadness of the passing of the former ANC MP.
“Cde Maphatsoe became a Member of Parliament in 2014 and was currently serving as a Whip of the Study Group on Sports, Arts and Culture. He previously served in the Portfolio Committee on Police as a Whip of the Study Group and was a former Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans from 2014 – 2019,” the caucus said in a statement.
“In Comrade Maphatsoe’s passing, the ANC has been robbed of a dedicated, loyal and patriotic freedom fighter, a robust and fearless legislator as well as a capable leader. The ANC Caucus conveys its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and comrades during this difficult time. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Maphatsoe served as ANC MP and is former Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
Maphatsoe, a close ally of former president Jacob Zuma, is a former member of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas), Soweto Youth Congress (SOYCO) and South African Youth Congress (SAYCO).
According to various government archives, during the apartheid era, Maphatsoe went to exile and was trained as a Political Commissar of MK.
He is also said to have received further training in Angola and in the Soviet Union and was also exiled in Uganda before returning to South Africa.
Known to be controversial and outspoken, Maphatsoe’s political career has also seen him leading the ANC Greater Joburg Zone 7 where he served as zonal treasurer.
“During his tenure, the Ministry of Defence was changed to Defence and Military Veterans to accommodate military veterans, and to form a department separate from the Department of Defence with its own budget and administration.
“Under his leadership, the South African National Military Veterans Association was re-launched and he was elected the president; this led to the unification of all military veteran structures,” a note from GCIS reads.
This is a developing story.
