MIDDELBURG – Steve Tshwete Ward 10 Councillor, Gift Maseko, is remembered as an activist who dedicated his life to serving others. Maseko, who also served as MMC for Infrastructure and Technical Services, passed away on June 9, 2024 after a prolonged illness. He was 48 years old at the time.
A family member, Mr Magagula, described him as an activist who spent his life serving the people. “He was not just a councillor; he was a revolutionary,” Magagula said at a memorial service held at Hlalamnandi Hall on Thursday. He went on to say that the untimely death has robbed the family of “everything.”
“We are deeply hurt. It is a very difficult time for us as the family because we have lost a loved one. We have lost a son, a father, and a brother,” he said. “It is not only us who have lost. The entire community of Middelburg has lost a leader.”
Maseko began his political career in 1994 as an active member of the African National Congress. He also served as a shop steward for the National Union of Mineworkers at Optimum Mine until 2013. He was subsequently elected as Ward 10 Councillor during the November 2021 local government elections, representing Eastdene, Hlalamnandi, and parts of Rondebosch. Maseko was also appointed MMC for Human Settlements and Spatial Development before his redeployment as MMC for Infrastructure and Technical Services, a portfolio he served with dedication until his untimely passing.
“I remember him as a quiet person who was always ready and available to work for the community,” said a friend, Dumisane Vilakazi. “We used to talk about many things, from sport to politics. He was always reserved but made a lot of sense when he talked,” Vilakazi further said. “I remember there was a time when there were no highmast lights in Ward 10; he made sure the lights were on. There was no community hall, and today there is a state-of-the-art hall because of his hard work and dedication.”
Steve Tshwete Mayor, Mhlonishwa Masilela, also shared his tributes, saying Maseko was not just a colleague. “He was a brother to many of us. He loved his job very much. Whether you called him at night to manage a crisis, he would do so without any hesitation. He was working tirelessly for the love of his community. It was such an honour to work with a servant of his calibre,” he said.
Maseko is survived by a 26-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son.
