Dignitaries gather to pay their respects

SENIOR government ministers and ANC leaders are expected to arrive in Mthatha this weekend to pay their last respects to Premier Phumulo Masualle’s mother Dineo “Mama” Masualle.

Mama Masualle died last week aged 89 after suffering a stroke.

The office of the premier confirmed yesterday that Gauteng counterpart David Makhura, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Senzeni Zokwana, Minister of Telecommunications Siyabonga Cwele and his deputy Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams are among those who confirmed they will be in Mthatha for the funeral tomorrow.

A delegation led by Tourism Minister Thokozile Xasa visited the grieving family yesterday.

ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane joined the delegation.

Mabuyane confirmed yesterday that ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe will also attend the funeral, to be held in Mpheko in Mthatha.

Late yesterday an inter-denominational group called Women’s Manyano also visited the family for a special prayer service reserved for women who have been actively involved and committed to the life of the church, who are traditionally known as Ukuxhonywa kweBhatyi.

Mama Masualle was living with her son at the time of her death.

Two years ago he hosted a thanksgiving ceremony in honour of her.

At the event, Masualle paid tribute to his mother, his siblings and Mpheko villagers for moulding his character.

He described her at the time as a “disciplinarian – a loving and caring mother who worked hard for her children, and in the process taught us how to survive as individuals”. —