Stalwart’s funeral will be highest honour SA can give a civilian
WINNIE Madikizela-Mandela’s special official funeral is at the highest level the government could give a civilian in honouring her‚ Minister in the Presidency Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said yesterday.
While it would contain elements similar to former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral‚ it would not be exactly the same – Madikizela-Mandela would have a special official funeral category 1‚ while his had been a state funeral‚ reserved for heads and former heads of state, she said.
Dlamini-Zuma is the convener of the inter-ministerial task team that will manage the organisational elements leading up to Madikizela-Mandela’s national official memorial and funeral‚ which will be held in Soweto on April 11 and 14 respectively.
The official funeral will be at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg and the burial at Fourways Memorial Park.
Dlamini-Zuma said the venue for the memorial service was still to be announced since the family had indicated it should be at the Regina Mundi Church, but the government was considering holding it at the Orlando Stadium, which is close to Madikizela-Mandela’s home.
Dlamini-Zuma could not say at this stage which dignitaries were expected to attend the official proceedings.
Condolence books have been placed at a number of venues‚ including the OR Tambo International Airport‚ parliament‚ Tuynhuys‚ the Union Buildings‚ all provincial legislatures‚ all offices of the nine premiers‚ as well as in Brandfort‚ where Madikizela-Mandela was effectively exiled‚ Mthatha‚ where she was born‚ and Bizana‚ where she was raised.
Deputy President David Mabuza led the signing of the ANC condolence book outside her home in Soweto yesterday.
It was then signed by ANC secretarygeneral Ace Magashule and treasurer-general Paul Mashatile and other NEC members, including Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu‚ Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Cooperative Governance and Local Government Minister Zweli Mkhize. – BusinessLIVE, additional reporting by Ernest Mabuza