President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa has lost a great leader in the late former Minister, Tito Mboweni.
Ramaphosa was delivering the eulogy at Mboweni’s funeral at the Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen, Limpopo.
Mboweni died in a Johannesburg hospital earlier this month after a short illness.
Mboweni was 65 when he passed away
He served as the country’s first Labour Minister after his appointment by the late former President, Nelson Mandela and was South Africa’s first black Govenor of the nation’s Reserve Bank.
“We have lost a respected leader, friend, comrade, teacher, mentor and compatriot. He was known by many names to many different people: Comrade Tito, Uncle Tito, national breadwinner, unpaid impresario for lucky star, the Duke of Magoebaskloof. He was larger than life because he led such a big life and touched the lives of many people.”
Funeral service of former Minister Tito Mboweni:
Ramaphosa says Mboweni taught politicians that a leader can serve the people with integrity, leading by example during a dark period of state capture.
Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Mboweni, saying he touched the lives of many people.
“He was respected by leading economists, titans of business, labour leaders and ordinary people in our country. Yet despite his stature, he never lost the common touch he had a gift to connect with people. He valued character over pedigree. Tito taught us public service is noble and necessary that one can serve the people of his country with integrity and to me he was shining star that shined the brightest in a maze of a dark period of state we call state capture.”
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