Special provincial funerals for stalwarts

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared special provincial official funerals for two Eastern Cape ANC activists, Laura Mpahlwa and Malgid Ntlebi.

This means all SA flags in the Eastern Cape will fly at half mast when the two are laid to rest on Saturday, one in Mthatha and the other in East London.

Special provincial funerals are afforded distinguished persons. As the head of state, the president can declare one only after a premier writes to her or him requesting it as they feel that a late resident of their province deserves such recognition.

Premier Oscar Mabuyane received requests from the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) and Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veteran’s Association asking him to request Ramaphosa afford Mphahlwa and Ntlebi special provincial funerals, Mabuyane’s spokesperson, Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, said on Thursday.

Mabuyane said: “Declaring special provincial funeral services for Ntlebi and Mpahlwa was a fitting honour by the country to appreciate their contribution in the liberation, growth and development of the Eastern Cape.”

Tributes continued pouring in for both on Thursday. Mpahlwa’s eldest son, Luyanda, said: “The departure of our mother is a huge loss because she was a pillar of strength and the unifying figure of the family. She was a caring mother and always had our interests first, caring for our personal development and the most accommodating parent.”

Mabuyane will deliver the eulogy at Mpahlwa’s funeral at St Johns Cathedral in Mthatha.

Finance, economic development, environmental affairs & tourism MEC Mlungisi Mvoko will deliver the eulogy at Ntlebi’s funeral in the East London City Hall.

She was a pillar of strength and the unifying figure of the family