Gordon Kegakilwe ‑ a senior executive in South Africa’s North West provincial government ‑ succumbed to a COVID-19 related illness on July 6, 2020.
He a provincial Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for cooperative governance, human settlement and traditional affairs.
“MEC Kegakilwe was admitted with COVID-19-related pneumonia yesterday (July 5, 2020) afternoon at the Vryburg Private Hospital and was immediately put on oxygen, and a decision was taken this morning to transfer him to a medical facility in Klerksdorp,” the statement said, referring to a larger city in the province.
It added that Kegakilwe suffered cardiac arrest upon his arrival in Klerksdorp in an ambulance and died despite efforts by medical personnel to revive him.
South Africa has nine provinces, and each has an executive council, which can also be referred to as a provincial cabinet. The Provincial Executive Council consists of the premier as head and between 5-10 MEC’s.