Parliament, Tuesday, 3 November 2026 – The Presiding Officers of Parliament announce with profound sadness the untimely passing today of Advocate Modibedi Eric Phindela. He was a longstanding senior parliamentary official whose distinguished service, authoritative knowledge of parliamentary procedure and steadfast dedication made an enduring contribution to South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, extend their heartfelt condolences to the Phindela family, his friends, colleagues and the wider legislative community. His passing is a profound loss to Parliament and to the many institutions and individuals who benefited from his knowledge, leadership and counsel.
Advocate Phindela served the NCOP with distinction, first as Under-Secretary and subsequently as Secretary to the Council. Having acted in the latter position from March 2009, he was appointed with effect from 1 June 2010, following a motion supported by all nine provinces. His unanimous endorsement reflected the Council’s confidence in his ability to provide the administrative stability and procedural leadership essential to its work.
For successive generations of Presiding Officers and Members, he was a dependable source of considered advice, sound judgement and institutional knowledge. His thorough understanding of the Constitution, parliamentary rules and precedents helped the Council navigate complex proceedings and discharge its constitutional responsibilities with confidence.
Successive NCOP Chairpersons and other Presiding Officers relied on his incisive procedural and legal counsel.
Through his leadership of the NCOP administration, Advocate Phindela supported the management of the parliamentary programme, the legislative process and the provision of procedural and related legal advice to Presiding Officers and Members. These functions are central to enabling the Council to fulfil its distinctive place in South Africa’s parliamentary system.
His passing is particularly poignant as the NCOP approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027. Established in 1997 to succeed the Senate, the Council held its first sitting on 6 February that year. Advocate Phindela devoted many years to the institution and played a significant role in its evolution, helping strengthen the practices and administrative foundations through which it carries out its mandate. As the Council prepares to reflect on three decades of service, it mourns the loss of one of the experienced officials who helped shape its institutional journey.
His professional life brought together substantial experience in law, academia, dispute resolution and legislative administration. Before his appointment as Secretary to the NCOP, he had served as a law lecturer and Deputy Dean of Law at the then University of the North, a researcher at the Constitutional Court and a commissioner of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. His legislative experience included service as senior legal adviser and executive manager of parliamentary proceedings in the Mpumalanga Legislature, as well as service in the administration of the Pan-African Parliament.
This breadth of experience informed the depth and quality of the counsel he brought to Parliament. He understood both the legal foundations of democratic institutions and the practical demands of enabling them to function effectively.
Advocate Phindela’s leadership and expertise were recognised beyond Parliament’s precincts and South Africa’s borders. Within the domestic legislative sector, he served as Chairperson of the Secretaries’ Association of the Legislatures of South Africa (SALSA), contributing to cooperation, professional exchange and the strengthening of legislative administration across Parliament and the provincial legislatures.
Internationally, he was an active and respected participant in parliamentary professional and multilateral forums. His engagements included the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments alongside meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Most recently, in September 2026, he chaired the 60th meeting of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments, held in Cape Town during the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
Said the Presiding Officers: “The sudden passing of Advocate Phindela has left us deeply saddened and sent shockwaves throughout Parliament and the broader legislative sector. We are all still coming to terms with this painful loss, made all the more devastating by its unexpected nature. At this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with his family and loved ones and extend our heartfelt condolences to all who knew and worked with him.”
Parliament honours Advocate Modibedi Eric Phindela’s life of service and expresses its deep appreciation for his contribution to the NCOP, the broader legislative sector and parliamentary democracy.
May his soul rest in peace.
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICERS OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo, Parliament Spokesperson
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