Free State MEC for Education Tate Makgoe was travelling from a meeting in Johannesburg overnight in an attempt to make it in time for a church service in Bloemfontein this Sunday morning when he perished in a road accident while on his way.
He was declared dead on the scene after his car rammed into three stray cows on the N1 highway near Winburg, the small farming town that lies about 113km northwest of the provincial capital.
His bodyguard, Vuyo Mdi, also failed to make it, while their driver, Pule Nkopane, survived the accident and remains in a critical condition in a Bloemfontein hospital.
Confirming the tragic news at a media briefing in Bloemfontein this morning, Premier Mxolisi Dukwana said the Free State Emergency Services crew that responded to the accident around 01:30am found the three trapped inside their vehicle after crashing into three stray cows.
“Regrettably, MEC Makgoe and one male protector, Warrant Officer Vuyo Mdi, were identified as those declared dead on the scene,” Dukwana announced.
The premier revealed that Makgoe met his untimely demise after he had decided to travel overnight from Johannesburg in order to attend a church service back in Bloemfontein.
“We only know that he had a meeting in Johannesburg and he was travelling back because he had an appointment as he was going to be attending a church service in Heidedal this morning,” Dukwana said.
“That is why he insisted on driving in the early hours in order for him to be here.”
Makgoe has been serving as the Free State’s MEC for Education since May 2009.
Under his watch, the province has attained the highest matric pass rate in the country for four consecutive years. – Staff Reporter