Former President Thabo Mbeki excluded from the official programme of Tito Mboweni’s funeral, despite being requested to speak.
At the funeral of former Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, former President Thabo Mbeki was unexpectedly removed from the official programme, despite being asked by Mboweni’s family to deliver a tribute. According to the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Mboweni had specifically requested Mbeki’s involvement. The Mboweni family apologized for the omission, offering to reinstate Mbeki’s speech, but Mbeki declined, choosing to respect the final programme. Mbeki had prepared a heartfelt tribute, focusing on the country’s current crises, including unemployment and inequality, which Mboweni had discussed with him.
Mboweni’s Family Request
In line with Mboweni’s final wishes, his family approached Mbeki and asked him to deliver a tribute at the funeral. Initially, Mbeki’s name appeared in a draft programme shared by the family, where he was set to speak as a leader, mentor, and friend. Mbeki graciously accepted the request and prepared a speech.
Unexpected Programme Change
However, on the eve of the funeral, the final programme excluded Mbeki’s name, with no explanation provided for the sudden change. Despite the unexpected omission, Mbeki remained composed and chose not to raise concerns, accepting the decision without question.
Mboweni Family’s Apology
Upon Mbeki’s arrival at the funeral, Mboweni’s family members approached him to offer an apology for the programme change. They offered to amend the schedule to include him, but Mbeki declined, stating that the programme should be respected as it was. His response was gracious, emphasizing that the family should not endure additional stress during such a difficult time.
Mbeki’s Prepared Tribute
Mbeki had prepared a tribute that echoed the deep discussions he and Mboweni had shared over the years. He reflected on their joint concerns regarding South Africa’s crisis, including poverty, unemployment, and inequality, topics that weighed heavily on Mboweni during his final days. Mbeki highlighted how Mboweni’s unhappiness with the state of the country’s political and economic situation reflected the broader challenges facing the nation.
Mbeki’s exclusion from the funeral programme stirred public debate, with many questioning the decision, especially given Mboweni’s personal request. The incident has further spotlighted the underlying tensions within the ruling ANC party, but Mbeki’s calm and respectful approach to the situation helped defuse what could have been a much more divisive issue.
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