Mbeki was removed from funeral programme despite Mboweni family request – Foundation

Mbeki

Cape Town — The Thabo Mbeki Foundation has revealed that the former president was supposed to speak at the late Tito Mboweni’s funeral but was removed from the programme.

Mboweni was buried in a special provincial funeral in Limpopo on Saturday after the former Finance Minister and South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor died last week aged 65. Mboweni was a political stalwart and received tributes from many former colleagues and political opposition.

Ahead of his funeral, the Foundation revealed that Mbeki was snubbed from the funeral programme after the Mboweni family had approached Mbeki with a special request. The family asked him to prepare and deliver a tribute, a statement read.

“The Mboweni family shared a draft funeral programme with President Mbeki, which included a list of proposed speakers. Among them was President Mbeki, who was invited to speak as a leader, mentor, and friend,” the Foundation said.

“On receipt of the final draft of the special official service programme on the eve of the funeral, it was noted that all the names proposed by the family were included, except for President Mbeki’s,” the Foundation added.

“The family members profusely apologised again, and President Mbeki graciously accepted, assuring them that no further stress should be placed on the family during such a difficult time,” the Foundation added.

He said, when Mboweni joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1994, the party was glad that he had done so.

“When he made that commitment he knew that this might cost him his life but nevertheless stood by that commitment throughout the decades of his adult life,” he said.

Mbeki described Mboweni as a “tried and tested combatant” for the liberation of South Africa. He added that it was inspiring and energising to serve in the ANC alongside Mboweni.

Mbeki was called to assess the first 30 years of democracy, he delivered a speech and Mboweni attended and participated in the meeting. The two men agreed that it was important to discuss the series situation happening in the country included the high levels of unemployment, poverty and income inequality.

“Together with Comrade Tito, we agreed that so serious was the crisis I have just mentioned that it was absolutely imperative that our nation as a whole should engage in a truly inclusive and first ever National Dialogue to answer the questions – how do we pull our country out of its crisis and what do we want South Africa to look like tomorrow?”

He said Mboweni was proud of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and explained that he had had departed the world at a time when his country and political movement needed him most.

“To honour Comrade Tito and his legacy, our voices must ring out very loud and clear to promote these two strategic tasks, reaching out to all the relevant stakeholders, hoping they will hear us,” he added.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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