Eastern Cape Education HOD Themba Kojana dies

The Eastern Cape’s Department Head of Education Themba Kojana has died, MEC Fundile Gade has confirmed.

Kojana passed away in the early hours of Thursday, 7 January 2021, just two days after he had been admitted to hospital for an illness. While it is not yet clear what the provincial education official succumbed to, several media reports claim it was COVID-19-related complications.

Kojana’s death has ‘shattered’ education sector, says MEC

With the entire education sector having to navigate the upcoming academic calender under a pandemic, Gade has admitted that his HOD’s death comes at a difficult time for them.

“We are facing an eye of a storm, and we have lost a great leader who whole heatedly dedicated his energy in transforming the sector. This has literally shattered us as the sector, and the province. This comes at a time when the Department had put its hope in his leadership for the realisation of a quality public education,”

Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade

Describing Kojana as someone who selflessly served the education department in the province, the MEC has praised him for his work. He said that during his tenure, Kojana had managed to lead a team of dedicated officials who helped to position the department well, provincially and on the map.

“Kojana seved as a catalyst of the Education Transformation Plan, which actually gave upward trajectory of the improvement of results in the Eastern Cape and the efficiency of the systems we have,” Gade said.

The MEC said Kojana managed to lead a team of dedicated officials who helped to position the department well.

Gade has expressed condolences to Kojana’s friends and family.

“He indeed was a public servant in the true sense of the word. His untimely departure will leave a huge gap in the whole province. My condolences go to his family, friends and loved ones,” he further said.

The department is yet to meet with the Kojana family but said it would soon provide details on the funeral arrangements, as soon as they have been finalised.

Kojana, a former school principal, rose through the ranks and was appointed Deputy Director-General: School Infrastructure Management in June 2016, responsible for school infrastructure planning, delivery, maintenance in the Basic Education Sector.

He holds a BA degree from Vista University and BEd Honours from the University of Free State.