Lekota and a delegation from the department visited Masilela's family on Monday, said the department's spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi yesterday.

Masilela died in a car accident along the N4 highway near Bronkhorstspruit on Sunday.

It appears that he lost control of his vehicle.

He died at the scene.

Chief of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), General Godfrey Ngwenya, also extended his condolences to the family.

Masilela, who is survived by a wife, five children and three grandchildren, joined the department in December 1999.

Born in Middelburg, Mpumalanga on February 23, 1955, Masilela went into exile in countries including Cuba and Angola.

He was a Commissar (deputy commander) at the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) headquarters in Angola, and chairman of the Regional Political Military Council in Botswana.

Parliament's committees for defence praised Masilela for the role he played in strengthening the SANDF.

The portfolio committee on defence and the joint standing committee on defence both described his death as "tragic and untimely".

African National Congress spokeswoman (ANC) Jessie Duarte said Masilela's death had robbed the country of a "committed patriot".

Masilela served as a member of the National Executive Committee of the party from 1992 to 2002.

Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils said Masilela understood the importance of education and the hard work that was needed to bring about change in the country.

Director general in the presidency Reverend Frank Chikane also conveyed his condolences to the family on behalf of the Crime Prevention and Security Clusters.

"Masilela left a legacy of hard work and sound ethics and will be sorely missed," said Chikane.

The Democratic Alliance described Masilela's death as a "great shock."

The SA Communist Party described Masilela as a "humble servant of the people".

Nampa-Sapa

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