President Jacob Zuma has sent his condolences to the family of former co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister, Sicelo Shiceka, who died at St Mary's private hospital in Mthatha on Monday morning, following a long illness.
Zuma says they will miss his energy, as he was a hard worker, and his impact was greatly felt in the local government turnaround strategy, as well as his contribution to the struggle from the early 1980's.
Political parties also expressed sadness over his death.
The Democratic Alliance says while they differed with him from time to time, they never underestimated the extent to which he loved South Africa and its
people.
Zuma sacked Shiceka as a minister in October last year, after he was implicated in wrongdoing by Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela.
She found he had racked up more than R1 million in travel costs for himself, his staff and friends, in violation of the executive ethics code.
