Pictures of the wreckage of the car accident that claimed the life of ANC official Tate Makgoe are currently circulating on social media. The luxurious BMW has been damaged from the front, sides and at the back. It looks like the impact was too huge, maybe from a high speed when the car collided with cows.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has described the death of Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe as a huge loss to the nation’s education sector. Makgoe aged 59 died in a car crash on the N1 near Winburg this morning. Premier Mxolisi Dukwana announced the sad news a short while ago and visited the accident scene.
The 59-year-old Makgoe and one of his bodyguards died in the early hours of this after their car hit two cows on the N1 stretch near Winburg. Motshekga says the departure of Makgoe is huge loss to the education sector and society as a whole. Makgoe has been serving as the Education MEC since May 2009. He remains the longest-serving Education MEC in the Free State in the democratic era. Makgoe was adored by many for his charismatic attitude and passion for young people.
Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi has also conveyed words of condolences. “A true cadre and champion of education struggles. Clear and consistent on education matters. The pain of losing such a committed cadre is unmeasurable. Hamba Kahle, Mkhonto”, Lesufi said. A known education enthusiast, he holds several qualifications, from Chemical Engineering to Commerce and Business Leadership. The Umkhonto we Sizwe veteran was born Pule Herbert Isak Makgoe in Tumahole in Parys.
These are bad news, but proper fencing might have avoided this catastrophe. It is not a secret that livestock is usually grazing along that road and this has caused many accidents in the past. Now the big tree has fallen, why do we lose people who change the lives of African child. What a sad day for our Province and the country. Makgoe made a huge difference for many young people in the Free State by encouraging them to prioritize education. Four the past four years, the province has attained the highest pass rate because of Makgoe.