"He had distinguished himself as an outstanding public service administrator and one of the brightest we have had as a province," adding that in his most recent appointment he was as an administrator at the Ditsobotla local municipality, Matlawe "carried out this task with diligence".  

He died on 6 May after a short illness, Mokgoro said.

The ANC in North West said Matlawe's death signifies a great loss for the movement, the people of the North West and the entire country.

"He had served our people in many capacities including as director in the department of local government in the North West, chief director in the Gauteng provincial government, responsible for urban renewal, municipal manager in Rustenburg local municipality and administrator in Madibeng and Ditsobotla local municipalities.

"His life epitomised the notion that revolutionaries oppose death by affirming the struggle for life, for the liberation of humanity and for the end of all forms of poverty. 

"Cde Eric Matlawe has left behind a rich legacy, which should inspire our resolve to fight poverty and rid our government of the cancer of corruption and maladministration," interim provincial committee (IPC) coordinator, Hlomani Chauke, said.

Chauke said Matlawe was an activist from a young age and cut his political teeth in the youth and student movement during the struggle for liberation in South Africa.

He joined the SA Student Congress branch at the University of Bophuthatswana and served as an SRC deputy president from 1991 to 1992.

In 1993, Matlawe, Solly Bokaba, Otsile Ntsoane, Boitshoko Senne and other student leaders were detained and tortured by the Bophuthatswana regime for a period of 27 days. 

"With the advent of democracy, Cde Eric found his passion in local government where he has been hailed as an accomplished administrator," Chauke said.

Matlawe will be buried in Atamelang on Saturday.

African News Agency (ANA)