President Jacob Zuma wishes to send his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Professor Jakes Gerwel on his sad passing in the early hours of the morning in Cape Town.

Professor Gerwel was Chancellor of Rhodes University and former Director-General in the Presidency as well Secretary of Cabinet during President Nelson Mandela's term of office.

"South Africans will remain eternally grateful to Professor Gerwel for laying a strong administrative foundation concretising the new ethos of a free and non-racial South Africa and for leading a team of dedicated heads of departments to drive the government's vision of reconciliation as well as reconstruction and development at a crucial time in the history of our country,"said President Zuma.

"We will sorely miss the tenacity and dedication of this distinguished academic and leader of our society. On behalf of Government and the people of South Africa, we wish to convey our deepest condolences and may his soul rest in peace," the President added.