Jackson Mthembu to be honoured with official, category 1, funeral

Minister in the Presidency and ANC NEC member Jackson Mthembu will be honoured with an official category 1 funeral, the presidency confirmed on Friday 22 January. 

Mthembu sadly passed away on Thursday due to COVID-19 related complications. Not too long after President Cyril Ramaphosa broke the news to the nation, heartfelt tributes have been pouring in ever since. 

JACKSON MTHEMBU TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL FUNERAL IN MPUMALANGA 

According to the presidency, Jackson Mthembu will be honoured with an Official Funeral Category 1 at his home in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, on Sunday 24 January 2021.

“The State, Official and Provincial Official Funeral Policy accord Official Funerals Category 1 to serving Ministers,” the presidency added. 

The national flag will also be flown at half-mast at every flag station in the country from Saturday morning 23 January 2021, until the evening of the day of the funeral on 24 January 2021.

Jackson Mthembu will be laid to rest in his home town of Emalahleni in Mpumalanga on Sunday and proceedings will commence at 9:00. A memorial service will also be held at 13:00 on Saturday 23 January 2021 at the GCIS Auditorium in Hatfield, Tshwane.

“The memorial service and official funeral will take place in compliance with the applicable Disaster Management Act regulations,” the presidency added. 

OCCUPIED SEVERAL STRATEGIC AND LEADERSHIP ROLES 

Jackson 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 presidency added.

“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,” it added. 

The African National Congress (ANC), just hours after Jackson Mthembu’s death, expressed great loss. Deputy SG Jessie Duarte admitted that she was struggling with his passing. 

“I am struggling, frankly speaking, I’ve known him for many many years, it’s difficult to process that he’s gone but he is gone and he’s not going to come back. Our beloved NEC member with his delightful laugh and his ability to bring to the NEC great value is gone forever, we should not lose anyone else,” she added. 

Communications manager for the ANC Keith Khoza worked closely with Jackson Mthembu and called him a mentor that lived for the ANC. 

“He embodied that brand in his conduct in every way. He was indeed the son of the soil and we are going to miss him dearly,” he said.