Covid-19: DA deeply saddened by death of KZN MPL, Ricardo Mthembu

Issued by Zwakele Mncwango, MPL – Leader of the DA in the KZN Legislature
08 Jul 2020 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is deeply saddened by the death of provincial Legislature MPL, Ricardo Mthembu, as a result of Covid-19.

Mthembu, who was the ANC Spokesperson for the province, the Chairperson of the KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) portfolio committee and a former Mayor of KwaDukuza, passed away earlier today after several days in intensive care.

The DA extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Honourable Mthembu and to the members of his political party, the ANC.

Honourable Mthembu was a man who understood democracy. I had the opportunity to debate against him many times in the run-up to the 2019 elections and found an individual who was open to debating tough issues. He also recognized that while we might come from different parties with different views, it did not mean that we had to be enemies.

The passing of Honourable Mthembu has again highlighted the terrible reality of Covid-19.

The DA urges KZN’s citizens to take all reasonable precautions to protect themselves and their families. Regulations must be followed if we are to beat this virus.