Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has asked two Cabinet ministers to officially represent him and government at the memorial and funeral service of academic, Professor Ben Magubane.
Zuma, who described Magubane as a “distinguished historian and academic”, has asked Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande to address the memorial service, which will be held today at the University of Johannesburg.
For the funeral, Zuma has asked Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe to address the service.
Magubane passed away at his home in Johannesburg last Friday.
A historian and sociologist, Magubane was one of South Africa’s leading social scientists.
He was born in 1930 on a farm near Colenso in KwaZulu-Natal and moved with his family to Durban where they stayed at Cato Manor informal settlement.
A prominent member of the African National Congress, Magubane spent his years in exile and was involved with various members, including Oliver Tambo, where he played a vital role in the struggle against apartheid.
In 1999, he was honoured by former President Nelson Mandela for his contributions to social science. - SAnews.gov.za
