ANC expresses sadness over death of DA MP

By Ofentse Mokae
24 November 2009

The office of the ANC chief whip has expressed its sadness over the death of Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament, Cobus Schmidt.

Schmidt died in a car accident last night.

Mathole Motshekga says Schmidt was one of the hardest working MPs who always contributed excellent arguments that enhanced the quality of Parliament’s oversight role.

The ANC has sent its condolences to Schmidt’s family and friends.

Earlier DA leader Helen Zille expressed her and the party's shock at the sudden passing of Schmidt and described Monday night's accident as tragic.

"Cobus made a big impact in the short time he served as a Member of Parliament," she said in a statement.

Schmidt was the party's shadow deputy minister of energy.

Zille said he exposed Eskom's failure to fill critical vacancies, which led to load-shedding.

He was a member of the energy portfolio committee and a constituency MP in the southern Free State.

Zille said Schmidt was a patriot devoted to his country and serving the public.

Before his election to parliament, Schmidt was a councillor in the Masilonyana municipality and deputy headmaster of the Reseanohetse Primary School.