The City of Mbombela (CoM) has been rocked by the sudden passing of ANC chief whip Cde Meshack Nsimbini on Sunday, October 12.

Nsimbini was a long-serving and highly respected figure in Mpumalanga, known for his dedication to the party and his crucial role in maintaining discipline and co-ordinating the ANC caucus within the Mbombela council.

Details surrounding Nsimbini’s passing have not yet been disclosed, but the news has prompted an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum and the wider community he served. Colleagues and fellow councillors have taken to various platforms to express their shock and sadness.

Nsimbini first rose to prominence as a councillor and later served as chief whip in the former Umjindi Municipality before its amalgamation with Mbombela. His re-election to the role in the new CoM demonstrated the ANC’s trust and confidence in his leadership.

The CoM’s speaker, William Nkatha, said Nsimbini served with unwavering dedication, showed exemplary leadership and worked tirelessly for the community.

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“Throughout his tenure he has embodied the values of integrity, commitment, compassion, and the love of education,” said Nkatha. “He leaves an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working alongside him. His contributions have not only shaped the course of our institution, but also inspired countless individuals to strive for excellence and serve with purpose.”

He said Nsimbini’s passing leaves a significant void in the leadership of the municipal council. “His legacy is his unwavering commitment to his constituency and passionate dedication to the ANC’s principles. He will be remembered as a committed servant of the people, a wise mediator, and a pillar of the municipal council.”

CoM mayor Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko said: “It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I pen a message about the passing of a very dear person in my life – a colleague, a friend, a father figure, and community builder. When I received the news of his death, I immediately felt weak and numb from the intense pain of loss.”

According to her, Nsimbini had served as a councillor for more than 18 years. “You can imagine the lives he touched, the homes he built, the matriculants he assisted, and the many organisations he supported with his care and dedication,” she said. “It is heartbreaking to lose the person who kept everything connected.”

Makushe-Mazibuko recalled how Nsimbini took her under his wing when she first joined the council in 2016, saying he made her his special project. “I was called ‘baby chief whip’ because everywhere he needed to be, and couldn’t, I was there,” she said. “Every programme he had, I was either chairing or giving a message of support.”

She said he was a person who always managed to leave a tense room bursting with laughter.

Meanwhile, FF Plus councillor Ken Robertson, said: “The party offers its deepest condolences to the family of the late chief whip of council, Nsimbini. Cllr Nsimbini was a dedicated figure in council, and his presence will be deeply missed.”

The ANC’s Ehlanzeni regional secretary, Folas Sibuyi, said: “Nsimbini was a staunch member and supporter of the ANC, trained as a soldier in Angola during his time in exile, when the ANC was pulling out all the stops to deliver freedom to the people of South Africa.”

Sibuyi also said that, as a matter of principle, the ANC in Ehlanzeni has never viewed death as an isolated issue affecting only the family of the deceased. They collectively share in the grief and unbearable pain that Nsimbini’s family is currently experiencing.

The ANC Ehlanzeni Regional Executive Committee and all branches in the Mbombela sub-region will visit the family in Clau-Clau on Tuesday, October 14, at 11:00 to pay their condolences.