President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations in the country from this morning until the evening of the funeral of former Finance Minister Tito Mboweni on Saturday.
Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 in honour of Mboweni.
Mboweni died on Saturday last week at the age of 65.
In a statement, the President reiterated his condolences to Mboweni’s family and friends. He said Mboweni served the nation as an activist, economic policy innovator and champion of labour rights, with a sharp focus on fiscal discipline and economic transformation.
The funeral will take place at Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen, Limpopo. It will feature ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service.
Meanwhile, the principal of Bordeaux Primary outside Tzaneen says despite mourning the death of Mboweni, the school takes pride in its connection with the esteemed leader.
Principal Lordwish Mbhungana says the school will continue to claim Mboweni as one of its most notable and accomplished alumni.
“I remember he came to school, to our school on the 29th of August this year, where he wanted to check … and he even checked his records. We don’t have good archives there at the school. So I opened the admission book for him to see his name, when he started. We also opened an old book where they were putting all the records.”
“On that book, there were two Mbowenis, himself and his sister. They were the only learners by that time who passed standard six with the first class, which is now called distinction. So, we are going to remember him because he loved that school,” adds Mbhungana.-Additional reporting by Rendani Raliphaswa
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