Ronnie to have special funeral

Zuma orders flag to be flown at half-mast.

President Jacob Zuma has declared a Special Provincial Official Funeral for anti-apartheid activist and government communicator Ronnie Mamoepa who died in Pretoria on Saturday. Zuma hailed Mamoepa as a “highly regarded government communicator, an accomplished public servant and freedom-fighter”.

The presidency said Mamoepa, a liberation struggle activist and former member of the Gauteng provincial legislature, had become actively involved in the struggle for freedom and democracy at a young age, which led to his arrest by apartheid security forces and sentenced to five years on Robben Island while still in his teens.

Mamoepa had worked as head of communications and spokesperson for the first Gauteng Premier, Tokyo Sexwale, between 1994 and 1996. He further served as a chief director: communication and spokesperson to former President Thabo Mbeki and also spokesperson for then Deputy President Jacob Zuma, prior to his appointment as a spokesperson to former Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nkosazana DlaminiZuma, a position that he served with merit and dedication at their then head office at the Union Buildings from 2000 to 2009.

According to the presidency, since 2010, Mamoepa had also worked as deputy director-general: communication and spokesperson to Dr Dlamini-Zuma in the department of home affairs, where he is credited with the most successful turn-around communications strategy in that department.

He was seconded to the presidency by the department of home affairs in 2014 to serve as the spokesperson to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a position he held until his last day.

Zuma has ordered that the South African flag be flown at half-mast at every flag station in the Gauteng province on Saturday, the day of the funeral.

The details of his memorial service and the funeral will be communicated by the Gauteng provincial government. – ANA