THE board, management and staff of the Mandela Bay Development Agency, an entity of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, are deeply saddened by the passing of chairperson, Mandlakazi Skefile, on Friday, April 15.

MBDA spokesperson, Luvuyo Bangazi, said, “Having joined the board in 2018, Ms Skefile was appointed as board chairperson in November 2020, and ably led the agency during the height of an unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic.

“Even when her health proved difficult, Ms Skefile mastered the strength to execute her responsibilities with purpose and dignity.

“The board, management and the entire staff complement of the MBDA will miss her invaluable inputs, calm demeanour, voice of reason and proponent for inclusion and thinking big,” Bangazi said.

According to the family’s statement, Skefile succumbed to cervical cancer after battling the illness since 2019.

Before joining the MBDA as a board member and chairperson in 2020, she played a significant role in the marketing of South Africa as a preferred tourism destination through various platforms, including the more than 20 years at Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism with service from 2010 to 2019 as chief executive officer.

At the time of her passing, Skefile was also a trustee of the Sustainable Seas Trust, board member of the Port Elizabeth Opera House, and Cape Peninsula University Technology School of Tourism.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Eugene Johnson, said, “The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the people of the metro have lost a great leader of society and will miss her visionary leadership.

“On behalf of the people of Nelson Mandela Bay, I would like to pass our deepest condolences to her family.

“May the Almighty God give them strength during this difficult period.”

Skefile is survived by husband, Motse Mfuleni, and four children aged 30, 28, 17, and 14.

The official memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, April 28.

No further details were available at the time of going to print on Monday.