Mbabane: Newly elected Senator Jimmy Hlophe has passed on due to COVID-19 related illnesses.
When sought for comment, the Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli confirmed the death of the Senator. Mdluli said the Hlophe family did informed them as early as 3 am. He said they were making arrangements to formally report Hlophe’s demise to senior government officials.
Hlophe died while receiving treating at Manzini clinic.
Senator Hlophe was elected early August by the House of Assembly to replace the late Senator Mike Temple who died in March 2019.
Hlophe emerged victorious in the dramatic senate elections after candidates were reduced to two as the third candidate was subsequently disqualified. The third candidate was Sifiso Mabuza who is the brother to Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza.
The race to replace the late Mike Temple was left to Hlophe and Bongani Matsebula, amassed 30 votes, and Hlophe amassed 40 votes out of the 31 needed, automatically earning him the seat.
Hlophe was the Mahlangantsha Member of Parliament in the 8th Parliament.
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