Cape Town – Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has expressed his condolences following the passing of former Finance Minister Tito Mboweni on Saturday.
Godongwana described Mboweni as a “patriot” and a “titan”, acknowledging his contributions to South Africa’s economic landscape.
“We have lost a titan. A thinker, a doer and above all – a patriot. I am lost for words and heart broken.
“It is hard to imagine the grief felt by those closest to him. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” Godongwana said on Sunday.
The former minister died on Saturday evening surrounded by loved ones, his family said.
During the apartheid years, he was in exile in neighbouring Lesotho from 1980 before returning to South Africa in 1990.
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He served as labour minister from 1994 to 1998 after the country’s first all-race elections of 1994 that ended apartheid rule.
Between 1999 and 2009, Mboweni was the governor the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).
And in 2018, in his last cabinet portfolio before retiring from public service in 2021, he took charge of the country’s finance ministry.
There, he played an integral part of stabilising the country’s economy, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.
In between those periods, he held various roles in the private sector.
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) also mourned his loss.
“Mr Mboweni’s passing is a great loss to South Africa, the continent and the global economic community. He played a meaningful role in driving economic transformation and social change throughout a distinguished career.
“Mr Mboweni guided South Africa through periods of great uncertainty, with a steady hand on the economy during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 as Governor, and later shepherding the country’s finances through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic as Finance Minister,” the SARB said.
Mboweni’s leadership and influence were recognised both locally and globally.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
