The African National Congress (ANC) has confirmed that one of their own members, Linah Malatjie, has died on Sunday evening. Malatjie was the Executive Mayor of the City of Emalahleni in the Nkangala Region, Mpumalanga.
Before becoming mayor, Malatjie was a site steward in the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu). She was also an education and gender convener for the greater Highveld Region and worked as a teacher and deputy principal.
The ANC mayor dies in a head-on collision
According to the ANC regional spokesperson, Sello Matshoga, the mayor and her husband, Esau Malatjie, collided with a speeding Ford Ranger Bakkie.
“The mayor was in a private vehicle that collided with a Ford Ranger Bakkie. The Ford Ranger was allegedly driving at high speed and the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit them. It was a head-on collision, the driver of the Ford Ranger died on impact.”
Both Linah and Esau Malatjie was immediately taken to the hospital to get treated for their injuries. But sadly, the couple died in the hospital about an hour after they arrived.
JUST IN: The ANC in Nkangala has confirmed the death of the Executive Mayor of the City of Emalahleni, #LinahMalatjie and her husband, Esau Malatjie last night after a car crash. pic.twitter.com/6U55oKOePu
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 3, 2022
Malatjie will leave a void in the ANC
Matshoga added by saying that the death of the mayor will truly leave “a void in the ANC and in government in the province“.
“The ANC will remember her as a committed activist who served in our structures in various capacities. She belonged to a generation of post-apartheid activists who gave impetus to our struggle beyond the unbanning.
A vociferous opponent of gender inequality and discrimination, throughout her activism Linah was in the forefront of the struggle towards the advancement of women emancipation and empowerment,” said Matshoga.