Ramaphosa declares special official funeral for stalwart John Nkadimeng

President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Friday 7 August, declared a Special Official Funeral to honour the late Struggle stalwart and esteemed Member of the Order of Luthuli in Gold John Nkadimeng.

Nkadimeng was awarded for dedicating his entire adult life to the struggle for liberation, workers’ rights and for the formation of a united federation of trade unions.

Nkadimeng sadly passed away on Thursday 6 August 2020 at the age of 93.

Ramaphosa has expressed his deepest condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Nkadimeng. The president also visited his home in Johannesburg in April last year. 

SPECIAL OFFICIAL FUNERAL FOR NKADIMENG

Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral: Category 1, in honour of Nkadimeng. 

The Category 1 funeral, will be held in Johannesburg on Friday 14 August 2020 and will entail ceremonial elements provided by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). 

Ramaphosa has also directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations until the evening of 14 August 2020.

Ramaphosa recently also declared a special official funeral for the late struggle veteran Andrew Mlangeni, who passed away on Wednesday 22 July at the age of 95. 

Mlangeni celebrated his 95th birthday just one month before his death. He was the last remaining Rivonia Trialist.

‘A SELFLESS, EXEMPLARY AND COURAGEOUS STALWART’

Ramaphosa said we lost a remarkable veteran of our country’s liberation struggle. He said Nkadimeng was a selfless, exemplary and courageous stalwart who contributed immensely to South Africa’s democracy and freedom. 

Nkadimeng was born in 1925, in Sekhukhuniland, Limpopo, where he completed his primary school education before moving to Gauteng.

“Bab’Nkadimeng was among the 156 Congress activists who were detained during the Defiance Campaign in 1952 and charged with treason in the 1956 Treason Trial. He also went to exile, taking refuge in numerous neighbouring countries,” the presidency said in a statement on Friday. 

Nkadimeng also served in the African National Congress’s political and military council and served as the chairperson of the ANC’s political committee.

“He led the underground South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), where he also played an instrumental role in the formation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). In August 1995, he was appointed as South Africa’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of Cuba,” added the presidency.