Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the DA, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the families of Minister Collins Chabane, in particular his wife, Mavis, as well as the families of Sergeant Lesiba Sekele and Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane, following their deaths in a car accident in the early hours of Sunday morning.
In 2012, I was tasked with the responsibility of oversight on the Presidency. It was during this time that I got to know Minister Chabane well when he was Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration. In 2014, Minister Chabane was appointed as the Minister of Public Service and Administration. My party again offered me the opportunity to shadow Minister Chabane's new portfolio.
I have immense respect for his work, his commitment, his fairness and his openness. His efforts in improving the Public Service machinery have not gone unnoticed. The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration can today attest to these above-mentioned facts that Minister Chabane, together with his Deputy Minister, was no stranger to our portfolio committee meetings. He led with zestful energy and made himself available to encourage robust debates and contribute to bettering the lives of all South Africans.
After my move to his portfolio following President Jacob Zuma's announcement of the new Cabinet, Minister Chabane informed us that he was not new to issues related to the performance of the Public Service. When I congratulated him on his move to the department, he smiled and said, ``Hon McGluwa, so you are following me. Tell me what is this thing of yours called a shadow Minister of the DA''. Before I could respond, he hinted at the challenges within the Public Service. His sense of humour therefore was unmatched.
He spent his first few months in office visiting front service staff at various departments to interact with public servants on a mission to understand their challenges. During these visits, he urged public servants to report corrupt activities so that they could be investigated. In situations, for example, where you have to help people and you realise that you don't have all the instruments, he encouraged public servants to be creative, innovative and to resolve problems. I engaged extensively with Minister Chabane on some of the most pertinent issues in the department, some of them being the duplication of functions by the department, transversal service, functions transferred from one department to another and powers of the Public Service Commission. He would listen carefully and respond by saying, ``There are quite a number of issues mentioned here today, and we will correct some of these issues as time goes on. Government is very complex; let's not spend time on the problems, and look for solutions and assist departments to correct them''.
This actually formed part of his characteristics to make a difference in the Public Service domain. This was the essence of his character. He admitted fault, never took criticism personally and did his best to find solutions.
In fact, hon Deputy Speaker, if memory serves me well, Minister Chabane's last engagement with me in this House was a point of order he raised a few days ago. His dedication and commitment to his responsibility in his capacity as a Member of Parliament should serve as an example for all of us. All who interacted with him will sorely miss him.
My thanks and appreciation go to my leader, Mmusi Maimane, as well as the hon John Steenhuisen for the opportunity afforded me to participate in this debate. May his soul rest in peace.
Hamba Kahle. [Go well.]
I thank you. [Applause.]