Special Official Funeral for Mama Sobukwe

Friday, August 17, 2018

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 for the late Mrs Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe.

A Special Official Funeral Category 2 is reserved for distinguished persons specifically designated by the President of South Africa on request by the Premier of a province.

“The President has instructed that the national flag fly at half-mast at every station in the country for the late Mme Sobukwe from the day of the announcement until the evening of the funeral service as a mark of respect to her,” said the Presidency in statement on Thursday.

Mama Sobukwe, a struggle activist affectionately known as the “Mother of Azania”, was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver in April this year for her tenacious call for freedom of the people and steadfast support of incarcerated freedom fighters. She was the wife of the late Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) founder Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.

She passed away at the age of 91 on Wednesday, 15 August, at home in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape.

Independent of her husband, Mama Sobukwe challenged the injustices against the large population of South Africans.

The details of the funeral will be announced in due course by the Eastern Cape Provincial Government. – SAnews.gov.za