Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has designated the funeral of liberation struggle veteran and mother of former President Thabo Mbeki, Epainette Nomaka Mbeki, as a special provincial official funeral.
Minister in the Presidency and Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on State Funerals, Jeff Radebe, said in a statement that the honour is reserved for distinguished South African citizens who have made a meaningful contribution to the country.
“The President and the entire government acknowledge the immense contribution made by this stalwart in ensuring that the apartheid system that was characterised by so many injustices was dismantled,” said Minister Radebe.
“As South Africans, we are grateful for that and continue to pay tribute to this struggle veteran whose credentials are well documented. It is therefore befitting that she gets a dignified funeral.”
MaMbeki, wife of of the late struggle icon Govan Mbeki, passed away on Saturday at an East London hospital after a short illness.
President Zuma has also authorised that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at every flag station in the Eastern Cape on the day of the funeral, which will take place on Saturday in Idutywa. – SAnews.gov.za
