President Ramaphosa declares a Special Official Funeral for the late Dr Skweyiya

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral, Category 1 for the late former Minister of Social Development and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland, Dr Zola Themba Skweyiya, who passed away on Wednesday, 11 April 2018.
 
Dr Skweyiya served as Minister of the Public Service and Administration from 1994 to 1999 and later served as Minister of Social Development before retiring as a Member of Parliament in 2009.
 
In the same year, 2009, he was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland, a position that acknowledged the long period Dr Skweyiya had spent in exile during the apartheid era.
 
The Special Official Funeral Category 1 entails elements of military ceremonial honours and is declared in line with The Presidency's State, Official and Provincial Official Funeral Policy, for person of extra-ordinary credentials specifically designated by the President of the Republic of South Africa.
 
President Ramaphosa has ordered that the National Flag is flown at half-mast at flag stations countrywide and at South African Diplomatic Missions abroad with immediate effect until the evening of 21 April 2018, the day of the funeral.
 
The details of the official memorial and funeral services will be announced by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)
 
 
Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707.
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria