Joe Maila‚ the spokesperson for Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has died‚ The Times reports that the ministry announced. "It is true that he has died‚" Department of Health spokesperson Popo Maja said. The report says a statement issued by the ministry did not shed any light on the cause of his death. "The circumstances surrounding his death are not yet known to the Ministry‚" he added‚ appealing for the Maila family to be given a chance to deal with the news.
The report says Maila had a long history of communication within government. According to his LinkedIn profile‚ he first worked as a communication officer for the Department of Labour in 1996. He later moved on to be the spokesperson for the Department of Health in Limpopo before moving to the Department of Safety‚ Security & Liaison.
He had served as a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health since May 2012.
The report says he is survived by his wife and two children.
Police have confirmed that Maila apparently accidentally shot himself at a shooting range in Silverton in Pretoria, reports News24. Gauteng police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini said, "A 48 year-old male shot himself at a shooting range in Silverton at around 18:00 on Thursday".
Dlamini said the circumstances surrounding the incident would remain part of an inquest investigation. "An inquest docket has been opened at Silverton in Pretoria," said Dlamini.
Motsoaledi is quoted in the report as saying: ‘I appeal to the media and members of the community to allow the family space to deal with his death. Details of his memorial and funeral services will be announced as soon as we receive information from the family.’
[link url="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-10-20-health-ministry-spokesperson-joe-maila-has-died/"]The Times report[/link]
[link url="http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/health-spokesperson-killed-in-freak-shooting-range-accident-20171020"]News24 report[/link]