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President Jacob Zuma has designated the funeral of liberation struggle veteran and mother of former President Thabo Mbeki, Mrs Epainette Nomaka Mbeki as a Special Provincial Official Funeral. The honour is reserved for distinguished South African citizens who have made a meaningful contribution to the country.

The President has authorized that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at every flag station in the Eastern Cape Province on Saturday, 14 June 2014, the day of the funeral.

Ma Mbeki, wife of of the late struggle icon Mr Govan Mbeki, passed away on Saturday, 07 June 2014 at an East London hospital, in the Eastern Cape after a short illness. 

The President and the entire government acknowledge the immense contribution made by this stalwart in ensuring that the apartheid system that was characterized by so many injustices was dismantled. As South Africans, we are grateful for that and continue to pay tribute to this struggle veteran whose credentials are well documented.

It is therefore befitting that she gets a dignified funeral. The funeral will take place on the 14th of June in Dutywa in the Eastern Cape.