African National Congress (ANC) Deputy Secretary General Jesse Duarte has called on South Africans to deepen the fight against COVID-19 in memory of the late Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu.
Mthembu passed away on Thursday from COVID-19 related complications.
A “hybrid” official funeral service will be held for him at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in his hometown, Emalahleni in Mpumalanga this morning.
Speaking outside the Mthembu home in the Ackerville Township on Friday Duarte called on citizens to protect and defend one another against the virus.
Meanwhile President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at the funeral of Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga on Sunday.
Ramaphosa has accorded Mthembu an Official Category One funeral. The President has also ordered that the flags be flown at half-mast from this morning until Sunday.
Special broadcast on Mthembu’s passing:
Also Deputy President David Mabuza will pay tribute to him at his memorial service at the Government Communication and Information System Auditorium in Hatfield, Pretoria on Monday.
The memorial was originally scheduled to take place but has since been postponed to Monday following consultations between the Presidency and the late Minister’s family.
“The memorial service for the late Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu will now take place on Monday the 25th of January, with the Deputy President David Mabuza delivering the keynote tribute.
The Official Funeral Category 1 will proceed as previously announced, on Sunday, 24 January at the Minister’s home town of Emalahleni, Mpumalanga.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at the funeral which will take place with strict adherence to COVID-19 regulations pertaining to funerals and the prohibition on public gatherings, ” the Presidency said in a statement.
Tributes continue to pour in for the late minister:
