Minister who planned Mandela’s funeral dead

A South African cabinet minister and ally of President Jacob Zuma who served as the planning chief for Nelson Mandela’s funeral has been killed in a car accident, along with two bodyguards, officials said Sunday.

“Minister Collins Chabane and his two police protectors died in an accident last night. A truck was making a u-turn on the road and the vehicle went underneath the truck,” police spokeswoman Ronel Otto told AFP.

A case of culpable homicide had been opened and the truck driver was arrested at the scene, she added.

Collins Chabane, 54, was minister for public service and administration.

In a statement, Zuma described his death as a “huge loss to the country” adding that it was a “sad day indeed for all of us”.

Despite a relatively good road network, South Africa has been struggling with driving death rates comparable to those in poorer African countries. Alcohol, speeding and failure to separate heavy trucks from cars have been blamed.