Acting President Paul Mashatile has declared a Special Official Funeral Category two to honour former Minister of Labour and High Commissioner to Canada, Membathisi Mphumzi Shepherd Mdladlana, who died last Friday. 

MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES 

Mashatile offered his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mdladlana who has passed away at the age of 72. "The Special Official Funeral Category 2 will entail ceremonial elements presented by the South African Police Service. The occasion will take place in Cape Town on Saturday, 26 October 2024. Further details will be communicated in due course," said Mashatile. 

Mashatile declared that the national flag be flown at half mast around the country from this morning until the evening of the funeral on 26 October 2024. 

A DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA 

Mdladlana, who has been hailed for his love for teaching, also held a position as school principal before becoming a member of South Africa's first democratic Parliament in 1994. Four years later, he was appointed Minister of Labour by President Nelson Mandela and was retained in this role by Presidents Mbeki, Motlanthe and Zuma. 

Mdladlana's nephew, Mayibuye Sokupa, said the former minister was a teacher until he took his last breath. 

?He dedicated himself back to assisting with teaching programmes that assisted children who were struggling and needed extra lessons. We all know that before he occupied office as a minister, he was the first president of Sadtu. Teaching remained very important to him."