President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the family of the late liberation struggle veteran and respected diplomat, Ambassador Eddie Funde, who passed away on Tuesday.
“South Africa has lost a selfless and outstanding struggle activist in former Ambassador Funde, who contributed immensely to the struggle for freedom and the development of democratic South Africa.
“His passing is an enormous loss not only to his family but to the nation at large, as this constitutes the loss of a wealth of knowledge and experience, particularly in our reinvigorated international relations,” said President Ramaphosa.
Funde served as the first Chief Representative of the governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), in the Australasian and Pacific region and later as South Africa’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.
He also played a leading role in the communications sector in the early years of democracy in the country, including as chairperson of the Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Funde was instrumental in the development of the 1996 White Paper on Telecommunications Policy, which led to the formation of the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, on which he later served as deputy chairperson.
Funde also served as president and board chair of the South African Communications Forum and executive director of the South African Research and Development Trust.
“On behalf of government and the citizens of our country, we convey our heartfelt condolences to the Funde family and Ambassador Funde’s political home, the African National Congress. Our prayers and thoughts are with them in this difficult period. May his soul rest in peace,” said the President. - SAnews.gov.za
