By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
President Cyril Ramaphosa has accorded the late Minister, Jackson Mthembu an official funeral under category one. Mthembu who served as the Minister in the Presidency, died on Thursday due to COVID-19 related complications.
A 62-year-old politician will be buried on Sunday at his home in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga. Ramaphosa said the National Flag will be flown at half-mast at every flag station in the country from today until the evening of the day of the funeral on 24 January 2021.
“Mthembu contributed immensely to the liberation struggle as an anti-apartheid activist, student leader and unionist, for which he was subjected to harassment and detention by the apartheid security forces.
“He occupied several strategic and leadership roles in democratic South Africa. Mthembu served the African National Congress (ANC) as its spokesperson from 1995 to 1997 and from 2009 to 2014,” he said.
Ramphosa further said Mthembu contributed to the development of South Africa’s democratic constitution and also served as MEC in Mpumalanga. He said Mthembu has been a member of the ANC National Executive Committee since 2007 and served as the ANC’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly from 2016 to 2019.
“He was appointed as Minister in The Presidency after the 2019 general elections. Mthembu will be laid to rest in his home town of Emalahleni in Mpumalanga on Sunday the proceedings will commence at 09h00.
“A memorial service will be held at 13h00 on Saturday at the GCIS Auditorium in Hatfield, Tshwane. The memorial service and official funeral will take place in compliance with the applicable Disaster Management Act regulations,” said Ramaphosa in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president, Julius Malema also sent his deepest and sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mthembu. Malema said Mthembu was amongst the very few dedicated, humble, and principled leaders of government.
“Despite his access to power and influence, Mthembu was never caught in scandals of influencing tenders and government contracts to benefit his friends and family. With decisiveness, he always provided logical and sound leadership, which often transcended narrow partisan loyalties define parliamentary politics.
“The dedication of Mthembu was demonstrated through his principled participation in the struggle against the nonsensical apartheid regime, as a students’ leader, a youth activist, as workers’ leader, community leader, and certainly without entitlement for individual benefits,” said Malema.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen said: “On behalf of the DA, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and his party. You have lost a generous man with a big heart and an even bigger sense of humour. To say that Jackson was much loved would be some understatement.
“During the time that we served opposite each other in the National Assembly as chief whips of our respective parties, I came to know him well and I saw a side to him that explains why he was such a revered figure in the ANC.”
Steenhuisen said he knew Mthembu as a man of integrity, and someone who managed to see the bigger picture and the greater cause. He added that Mthembu was always prepared to do what it took to find solutions to whatever impasse they might have been facing in the House.
The Guardian 