Former Newcastle mayor dies after being struck by vehicle while jogging

Former Newcastle mayor and senior ANC leader Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba died after he was struck by a vehicle while jogging in Newcastle,KwaZulu-Natal,on Saturday morning.

Gallo Images/Darren Stewart

Former Newcastle mayor Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba was killed after being struck by a vehicle while jogging on Saturday morning.The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal described his death as a devastating loss to the liberation movement.A seasoned politician,Mahlaba most recently served as the chairperson of committees in the KZN legislature.

Former Newcastle mayor and senior ANC leader Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba,44,died after he was struck by a vehicle while jogging on Saturday morning.

The tragic accident in Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal left the ANC in the province mourning the loss of one of its most experienced leaders.

The ANC described his death as a devastating blow to the liberation movement,the medical fraternity,and the communities he served throughout his distinguished career.

Mahlaba,a medical doctor who was a seasoned politician,most recently served as the chairperson of committees in the KZN legislature.

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Throughout his career,he held several senior leadership positions,including as mayor of Newcastle,MEC for Sports,Arts and Culture,MEC for Public Works and Human Settlements,and a member of the ANC’s Provincial Task Team.

READ | Murder charges against Newcastle mayor dropped

ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Sifiso Sonjica confirmed Mahlaba’s death,saying the party was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

“It is with profound shock,shattering grief and an overflowing sense of revolutionary heartbreak that the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal announces the sudden and tragic passing of one of its most vibrant,dedicated and battle-tested servants,Comrade Dr Nkululeko Ntuthuko Mahlaba.

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“His sudden departure has cast a dark and painful cloud over our province and the broader liberation movement,” said Sonjica.

Mahlaba dedicated his life to both healthcare and public service,earning a reputation as a disciplined leader committed to community development and good governance.

Sonjica said his contribution to both the government and the ANC would leave a lasting legacy.

He said:

We have lost a revolutionary doctor,a fearless youth leader and a disciplined cadre who commanded the respect of friends and political foes alike.

“As a medical doctor,he chose to heal both the physical bodies of our people and the socio-economic wounds of our communities through his work in the ANC.”

ANC KZN MOURNS THE TRAGIC AND HEARTBREAKING PASSING OF CDE DR. MAHLABA pic.twitter.com/TWGWWqdthY

— ANCKZN (@ANCKZN) July 4,2026

The ANC extended its condolences to Mahlaba’s wife,Dr Busi Mahlaba,their children,relatives,friends and colleagues,while appealing to the public and media to respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.

As tributes continue to pour in,the ANC said Mahlaba would be remembered not only for the senior political offices he occupied,but also for a lifetime dedicated to serving the people of KZN,both in the consulting room and in public office.

The party said his untimely death leaves behind a grieving family,a legislature without one of its most seasoned leaders,and a province mourning the loss of a public servant whose impact will be felt for years to come.