Official burial for Sobukwe

Funeral plans yet to be announced

Flags will be flown at halfmast until the evening of the funeral of Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced yesterday that Sobukwe would receive a special official category 2 funeral.

According to the Presidency’s statement‚ official and provincial official funeral policy manual‚ this category was for “Distinguished persons specifically designated by the president of the Republic of South Africa”.

Sobukwe died on Wednesday after a long illness.

She was the widow of Pan Africanist Congress founder (PAC) Robert Sobukwe. She was 91 years old. PAC president Narius Moloto said on Wednesday that Sobukwe died in GraaffReinet in the Eastern Cape‚ where the mother of four had lived a quiet life out of the limelight.

“I can confirm that at around 2am‚ Mama Sobukwe died. We are sorry and saddened by her passing and wish to pass our condolences to the family‚” Moloto said.

“We will honour her for her contribution in the [antiapartheid] Struggle.

“She contributed to the Struggle by supporting her husband‚ Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe‚ through thick and thin. When Robert was arrested‚ she was there.

“It was her who was supporting him and raising their children while he was incarcerated.”

Moloto said Sobukwe had been admitted to hospital six weeks ago.

“Independent of her husband … she challenged the injustices meted out against the large population of South Africans.”

Sobukwe received the Order of Luthuli in Silver earlier this year for her “tenacious call for freedom of the people and steadfast support of incarcerated freedom fighters”.

The details of the funeral are yet to be announced.

Robert Sobukwe died of lung cancer complications in 1978.

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