Limpopo Agriculture MEC Joy Matshoge spent some of her final hours listening to the grievances of farmers.

Provincial government spokesperson Phuti Seloba said this was a sign of Matshoge’s dedication and commitment‚ when he confirmed her death on Sunday morning.

Matshoge was killed in a car crash around 8pm on Saturday evening travelling on the N1 from Polokwane to her home in Modimolle‚ he said.

“She was the only person in the car and [her car] was the only car in the accident.”

Matshoge‚ who was also the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) chairperson in Limpopo‚ met with citrus farmers in Gilimburg on Saturday to discuss ways to ramp up production.

The ANC in Limpopo tweeted that her untimely death comes in the week that its provincial executive committee’s elections programme is due to focus on her home region of Waterberg‚ saying the programme’s activities will continue in her honour.

“The government sends its heartfelt words of condolences to her family‚ friends‚ colleagues and the entire ANC family.

“She was a very dedicated and committed person. It’s a great loss. We hope the entire community can support the family‚” Seloba said.

Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha said: “It is a very sad time for me as a leader‚ her family‚ and for Limpopo people in general.”

In a statement the ANCWL said it had received news of Matshoge’s death with great sadness.

“The members and supporters of ANCWL have lost one of its first line of defence‚ of the rights of the women of South Africa. Cde Joy was [a] fearless yet humble leader of our movement. At all times she upheld the principles of democratic centralism and work tirelessly to build a progressive united ANCWL.

“Her untimely death has robbed us [of] a disciplined‚ dedicated cadre of our revolution‚” it said.