Mac Jack

Mac Jack, full names McCollen Ntsikelelo Jack (born 26 July 1969, Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa), was a educator and politician. He was appointed the MEC of Education in Northern Cap since May 2019.

Who was Mac Jack?

Mac Jack was born on 8 March 1965, in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He matriculated from Thubalethu State High School in Fort Beaufort in 1984.

Mac Jack wife and children

Mac Jack is survived by his wife, seven children and nine grandchildren.

Mac Jack education

After matric, Mac Jack went on to study at the Masibulele College of Education where he received a teacher’s diploma. He then obtained a further diploma in educational management from the Rand Afrikaans University. From the University of the Witwatersrand, he attained a CPMD-Finance certificate, completed a Housing Policy Development Programme (HPDP), and received a certificate in governance and leadership.

In 2013, Jack received his honours degree in public administration from the University of Stellenbosch. At the time of his death, he was busy fulfilling his master’s degree from Wits University.

Mac Jack career

Mac Jack was first employed as a teacher at Isibane Primary School in his hometown. Later on, he began working as the principal at the Lillian Noveve Combined School in Victoria West.

He was also appointed by Eastern Cape Department of Education appointed as an assistant chief education specialist. In 1997, the Northern Cape government appointed him as the deputy director-general of the provincial Department of Housing and Local Government in De Aar.

He was also the municipal manager of the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality.

Political career

Mac Jack was a long-standing member of the African National Congress. He had also served as a member of both the ANC’s provincial executive committee and the provincial working committee.

In June 2013, Jack was appointed a member of the provincial legislature. Newly elected premier Sylvia Lucas appointed him the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Transport, Safety and Liaison on 5 June. He held the position until after the 2014 general election, when Lucas moved him to the Health portfolio of the executive. She reshuffled her cabinet in March 2016 and appointed him the MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism. Following the 2019 general election, Zamani Saul was elected the provincial premier and he named him the MEC for Education.

Mac Jack death and cause of death

In August 2020, Jack tested positive for COVID-19. He died from complications of the virus on 12 August at Mediclinic Gariep in the provincial capital Kimberley. He was 55 years old