The 55-year-old Jack, succumbed to coronavirus-related complications on Wednesday afternoon. His death comes a week after he was hospitalized at the Mediclinic hospital in Kimberley. 

Premier, Zamani Saul, is expected to deliver the eulogy at Jack’s funeral which will be limited to 50 people in light of the coronavirus regulations. To accommodate those who are unable to attend, the service will be streamed via the Northern Cape Provincial Government’s official social media pages. A tribute Facebook page has also been created for those who wish to send messages of condolences to Jack’s loved ones and colleagues. The Education MEC’s funeral will begin at 09:00 am. 

When Saul announced Jack’s death on Wednesday evening, he said Jack was expected to make a recovery but took a turn for the worst this week.

The Northern Cape Education Department has said Jack’s death has “rattled the inner soul of the Education fraternity”, but also noted the indelible mark he made in the department and the province at large. This sentiment has been echoed by North West Premier, Job Mokgoro who said Jack’s death is “inevitably our loss due to the deep-rooted historical ties between our two provinces”.

Jack’s death comes more than a month since North West Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Gordon Kegakilwe, passed away also due to coronavirus (Covid-19) complications. Kegakilwe received a provincial official funeral category one in Vryburg, with Ramaphosa ordering that the national flag fly at half-mast. 

Kegakilwe was admitted with Covid-19 pneumonia in mid-July at the Vryburg Private Hospital and was later transported to a medical facility in Klerksdorp where he died.

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