The chairperson of the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) Dr Clarence Mini has died from Covid-19 complications, the council body confirmed on Tuesday.

"He had been in hospital for the past six weeks," said a distraught Grace Khoza, general manager for stakeholder relations at the CMS.

Khoza confirmed the news to News24 on Tuesday with the permission of the family.

Khoza said that Mini also lived with asthma.

In a subsequent statement, Khoza said: "Dr Mini contracted coronavirus (Covid-19) and was hospitalised for more than a month, and all of us were hoping that he would pull through.

"This wonderful, compassionate and likeable individual leaves a legacy of having served this country and industry in many capacities with great distinction. Dr Mini leaves behind his beloved children Yandi and Nomhle, but above all his soul mate and best friend Mrs Nancy Mini. He shall be sorely missed by his family, colleagues and all industry stakeholders."

The CMS is the body that makes sure all medical aids in the country are run properly, and he was appointed by the minister of health to chair the council.

Khoza told News24 that when Mini had been in exile during apartheid and on his return, he could have gone into lucrative private practice.

Instead, he dedicated his life to bringing positive change to the medical industry.

She said one of his many success stories was turning the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) reserves around from being in "tatters".

But mostly, said Khoza, he believed in, and nurtured, young talent.

"He was respectful and he wanted us to be the best that we could be," said Khoza.

"He was very principled. He was stubborn in the belief that we all had the potential to do something good."

Health Ministry spokesperson Lwazi Manzi also confirmed on Tuesday that Mini had died.

*This story has been updated with additional comment from the CMS.