The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) says its spokesperson Sidwell Medupe has died from Covid-19-related complications, at the age of 56.
“I take this opportunity on behalf of the Deputy Ministers, the DTIC family and my family to offer our sincere condolences to his wife Felicity and his children, Tlholo, Tirisano and Thoriso and his grandchildren Remofilwe and Reabetswe.
“Sidwell had battled the Covid virus for a number of weeks and had been hospitalised. From his hospital bed he sent us messages of his hope and trust that he would speedily recover. We, in turn, all hoped his strong fighting spirit would help him to fully recover and that we would see him soon. It was not to be,” Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel said in a statement.
“We remember Sidwell for his warmth, his love for people and the joy with which he interacted with his colleagues. His passing deprives his family of a husband and father and, for the DTIC, we have lost a hardworking and dedicated public official.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends, the DTIC family, his fellow government communications officials and journalists. We will miss him tremendously,” he added.
Medupe joined the department as a director of media relations on July 1, 2008. He was appointed the departmental spokesperson on July 16, 2011, and worked hard in the role to communicate the work of the DTIC to a wider audience, Patel acclaimed.
His last public engagement was in Buffalo City on June 24 at the launch of the latest Mercedes-Benz model made in South Africa.