Kgakgamatso Nkewu
Member of the North West Executive Council for Social Development
In office
8 May 2016 – 7 July 2016
PremierSupra Mahumapelo
Preceded byFenny Gaolaolwe
Succeeded byHoffman Galeng
Provincial Treasurer of the North West African National Congress
In office
February 2015 – 7 July 2016
ChairpersonSupra Mahumapelo
Preceded byPhilly Mapulane
Succeeded bySello Lehari
Personal details
Born(1972-05-27)27 May 1972
Molelema, Taung
Transvaal, South Africa
Died7 July 2016(2016-07-07) (aged 44)
Political partyAfrican National Congress

Kgakgamatso Jeanette Nkewu (27 May 1972 – 7 July 2016), also known as Kgakgamatso Morwagaswe, was a South African politician who served as the North West's Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Social Development from May 2016 until her death in July 2016. She also served as Provincial Treasurer of the ANC's North West branch from February 2015 until her death. A member of the African National Congress (ANC), she was formerly a local councillor in Greater Taung Local Municipality.

Early life

Nkewu was born on 27 May 1972[1] in the village of Molelema near Taung in the present-day North West province.[2] She joined the ANC in the early 1990s[2] and was active in its Youth League and Women's League.[3] In 2013, she completed a degree in project management at Southern Business College.[2]

Career in government

She represented the ANC as a local councillor in Greater Taung Local Municipality, where she was a Member of the Mayoral Committee,[2][4] until February 2015, when she was elected as Provincial Treasurer of the ANC's North West branch, serving under Provincial Chairperson Supra Mahumapelo.[5]

She therefore was not initially elected to the fifth North West Provincial Legislature, which was constituted in 2014,[6] but she was sworn in to the provincial legislature during the legislative term and joined the North West Executive Council in a reshuffle on 8 May 2016. Mahumapelo, in his capacity as North West Premier, appointed her as MEC for Social Development.[7] She remained in her dual positions as MEC and ANC Provincial Treasurer until her death later in 2016.[3]

Personal life and death

She died on 7 July 2016 in a car accident on the N18 near Vryburg. She was travelling from Mafikeng to Taung, where she was scheduled to attend a campaign event ahead of the 2016 local elections, when her car collided with a cyclist; the cyclist was also killed and Nkewu's two bodyguards were hospitalised.[3][8][9] Her memorial service, held in Taung, included speeches by Mahumapelo and ANC Women's League stalwarts Bathabile Dlamini and Baleka Mbete.[4] Fenny Gaolaolwe acted as Social Development MEC until August 2017, when Hoffman Galeng was appointed as Nkewu's permanent replacement in the Executive Council.[10]

Nkewu was married and had two sons, who were aged four and 22 when she died.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Nkewu's life one of service". Sowetan. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via PressReader.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "North West hosts memorial service for late MEC Kgakgamatso Nkewu, 14 Jul". South African Government. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Condolences pour in for NWest MEC". IOL. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 "North West on funeral of MEC Kgakgamatso Nkewu". South African Government. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Supra Mahumapelo re-elected ANC North West leader". The Mail & Guardian. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "2014 elections: Members of North West legislature". Politicsweb. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "North West cabinet reshuffle sees four new members". Business Day. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "Newly appointed NW MEC killed in car crash". Potchefstroom Herald. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "North West: Premier Supra Mahumapelo on death of MEC Kgakgamatso Nkewu". Polity. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  10. ↑ Montsho, Molaole (8 August 2017). "Mahumapelo appoints two new MECs". IOL. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Tlape, Otsile (13 July 2016). "Tributes to 'miracle' MEC at packed service". Daily Sun. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
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