The late Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mphikwa Mthembu, will be honoured with an Official Funeral Category 1 at his home in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga on Sunday, 24 January.
Minister Mthembu passed away on Thursday, 21 January from COVID-related complications.
The State, Official and Provincial Official Funeral Policy accords Official Funerals Category 1 to serving Ministers.
The national flag will be flown at half-mast at every flag station in the country from today, 23 January until the evening on the day of the funeral on 24 January.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, 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 the democratic South Africa. He served the African National Congress as its spokesperson from 1995 to 1997 and from 2009 to 2014. He contributed to the development of South Africa’s democratic constitution and served as an MEC in Mpumalanga,” the statement read.
He 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. Proceedings will commence at 09:00.
A memorial service was held at 13:00 on Saturday, 23 January at the GCIS Auditorium in Hatfield, Tshwane.
