by Thinus Ferreira
The former SABC chairperson Dr Ben Ngubane died on Monday morning from Covid-19 complications He was 79.
Dr Ben Ngubane was a former KwaZulu-Natal premier, and South Africa's minister of arts and culture from 1994 until August 1996, and again from February 1999 until April 2004.
He also served on the Eskom board from December 2014 and resigned in June 2017. He was also a former chairperson of the Land Bank, and was minister of health in the KwaZulu-Natal government between 1991 and 1994.
In 2004 he was appointed as South Africa's ambassador to Japan until 2008.
His period as chairperson of the struggling South Africa public broadcaster from January 2010 until he resigned in March 2013 was tumultuous, marked by ongoing infighting at the dysfunctional SABC board, as well as rife corruption and maladministration at the broadcaster.
The Melomed Richards Bay hospital manager Randal Pedro in a statement on Monday morning confirmed Dr Ben Ngubane's death at 01:40 from Covid-19 after he had been admitted to hospital for the coronavirus.
"It is with regret that we confirm that this retired politician and former KwaZulu-Natal premier and SABC and Eskom chairperson has demised earlier this morning at around 01:40."
"Our family mourns this great loss as Dr Ngubane played a pivotal role in the transformation of the private healthcare landscape in Northern KwaZulu-Natal in an advisory capacity and I will personally miss his guidance and teaching."
"Melomed Richards Bay was privileged to have had his years of loyal patronage and support not just as a patient but as an advisory for access to healthcare and in doing so upheld his oath as a medical doctor."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sheila, his children and grandchildren during their time of bereavement as we mourn this great loss together with them."
The SABC in a statement on Monday afternoon said that it "has learnt with sadness of the passing of its former board chairperson Dr Ben Ngubane".
"The SABC would like to thank him for his immense contribution and would like to send heartfelt condolences to the
Ngubane family."
