Gordon Kegakilwe

Mothibedi Gordon Kegakilwe (1 April 1967 – 6 July 2020) was a South African politician and a party member of the African National Congress. He served as the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs from May 2019 until his death in July 2020.

Gordon Kegakilwe
North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs
In office
28 May 2019 – 6 July 2020
PremierJob Mokgoro
Preceded byPosition reconfigured (Motlalepula Rosho as MEC for Local Government and Human Settlement)
Succeeded byMmoloki Cwaile
North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs
In office
8 May 2009 – 25 November 2010
PremierMaureen Modiselle
Thandi Modise
Preceded byHoward Yawa
Succeeded byPaul Sebegoe
Member of the North West Provincial Legislature
In office
22 May 2019 – 6 July 2020
In office
6 May 2009 – January 2016
Personal details
Born
Mothibedi Gordon Kegakilwe

1 April 1967
Tlakgameng, Transvaal Province, South Africa
Died6 July 2020(2020-07-06) (aged 53)
Klerksdorp, South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress
SpouseBetty
Children3
Alma materUniversity of the Free State
University of the Witwatersrand
ProfessionPolitician

Kegakilwe was elected to the North West Provincial Legislature in May 2009. He served as the MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs from 2009 until 2010 and was the ANC's chief whip between 2011 and 2013.[1] In January 2016, he resigned as an MPL but returned to the legislature after the May 2019 elections. Within the ANC, Kegakilwe served as deputy provincial secretary and as acting provincial secretary.[2]

Early life and education

Mothibedi Gordon Kegakilwe was born on 1 April 1967 in Tlakgameng, north of Vryburg in the Transvaal Province.[1] He started school at Kegakilwe Primary School in 1973 and matriculated from Pinagare College.[1] Kegakilwe then enrolled for a degree in medicine at the Medical University of Southern Africa (now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University).[1] He dropped out due to anti-apartheid activities.

Kegakilwe obtained a degree in education, an honours degree in chemistry and a master's degree in governance from the University of the Free State. He achieved a certificate in management from the University of the Witwatersrand.[1] He proceeded to teach at a local college.[3]

Political career

Kegakilwe joined the African National Congress and served as the head of the party's Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region from 2006 until 2010.[1] He was also the municipal manager of the Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality.[3] He was elected to the North West Provincial Legislature in May 2009. He was sworn in as a member of the legislature on 6 May 2009. Premier Maureen Modiselle named him MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs.[4]

Thandi Modise was elected premier in November 2010, and she removed him from the post.[5] The ANC then appointed him chief whip of the legislature. He served in the post from 2011 until his resignation in 2013 due to allegations of him abusing state funds.[6] Within the ANC, Kegakilwe served as deputy provincial secretary and as acting provincial secretary. He ran for provincial secretary in November 2013 but lost to Dakota Legoete.[7][3]

In May 2014, he was re-elected to a second term as an MPL, but he resigned from the legislature in January 2016.[8] Kegakilwe returned to the legislature in May 2019. Premier Job Mokgoro named him the member of the Executive Council responsible for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs.[9][10]

Death

On 5 July 2020, Kegakilwe was admitted to a medical facility in Vryburg after testing positive for COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. He was transferred to a Klerksdorp hospital on 6 July but, due to complications from the virus, he suffered cardiac arrest and died. He was 53 years old. Various politicians, including national Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Human Settlements minister Lindiwe Sisulu, paid tribute to Kegakilwe.[11][12][13] He is survived by his wife and six children.[3]

References
  1. Thapelo, Dineo (10 July 2020). "Kegakilwe was a selfless leader". Pressreader (Sowetan). Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  2. "COVID-19: NW Cogta MEC Gordon Kegakilwe dies". eNCA. 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  3. De Villiers, James (7 July 2020). "EXPLAINER l 5 things you need to know about MEC Kegakilwe who died after short Covid-19 battle". News24. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  4. "Modiselle has confidence in her new team". IOL. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  5. "Premier reshuffles provincial cabinet". City Press. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  6. Mataboge, Mmanaledi (21 November 2013). "ANC's Kegakilwe accused of improper conduct, pocketing state funds". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  7. Mataboge, Mmanaledi (26 November 2013). "Legoete elected ANC NW provincial secretary". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  8. Tau, Poloko (21 January 2016). "Is 'demoted' MEC the latest casualty of North West 'dictatorship'?". City Press. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  9. Montsho, Molaole (28 May 2019). "Women dominate North West Premier Job Mokgoro's new cabinet". IOL. Mahikeng. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  10. "Premier Job Mokgoro on announcement new North West Provincial Executive Council". www.gov.za. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  11. Makinana, Andisiwe (6 July 2020). "North West MEC dies of 'Covid pneumonia'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. "North West Cogta MEC dies from Covid-pneumonia". IOL. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  13. Madia, Tshidi (7 July 2020). "Tributes pour in for North West MEC Kegakilwe who died due to Covid-19 complications". News24. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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