Bavelile Hlongwa was one of the young people that President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed into his executive in May this year.
Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Bavelile Hlongwa, died in a car crash at the age of 38. According to City Press, the Deputy Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Bavelile Hlongwa had stopped to assist a motorist whose vehicle had overturned on the N1 at Maubane in Limpopo when she became a casualty of an unusual accident.
The incident occurred on the N1 in the Hammankraal area.
It is understood Hlongwa, who was born in Umzinto on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast was killed in a car crash near Pretoria on Friday night when a truck ploughed into the wreckage.
She and her security detail, emergency medical services personnel and Bakwena security group personnel were in the process of assisting the motorist when a flatbed truck crashed into the scene,” Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said in a statement yesterday.
Mbalula said probing had been launched by the Road Traffic Management Corporation and The SA Police Service
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe confirmed Hlongwa’s passing away.
“South Africa has lost a diligent and dedicated servant of the people. Just as she lived, Hlongwa died helping others,” Mbalula said in a tribute.
She also served in the KwaZulu-Natal task team of the ANC Youth League. During her time with the youth league, she was also elected to serve on the national executive in 2015.
The presidency issued a statement saying President Cyril Ramaphosa was deeply saddened by the untimely passing of the deputy minister.
“Ramaphosa has also expressed his condolences to the families of the four people who died with the deputy minister on the scene while attempting to assist the passengers involved in another incident.
“The death of deputy minister Hlongwa is a devastating, untimely loss of a talented young leader,” said Ramaphosa.
She was appointed as deputy minister of mineral resources and energy in May this year.
Ms Hlongwa studied at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Howard College where she obtained her Bachelors of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. She started her career at Shell Downstream SA.
Ms Hlongwa has been exposed to leadership positions since 1999 and has served on the Local Community Development Committee. In 2011, Ms Hlongwa was elected into the South African Institute of Chemical Engineers (KZN Branch) and in 2013 she served as a treasurer for the structure.
In a statement, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala said the country has lost a talented young leader in Hlongwa.
In May 2017, Ms Bavelile Gloria Hlongwa was appointed as the Executive Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the National Youth Development Agency.
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