President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a solemn ceremony marked by dignity and reflection, led South Africa in paying final respects to former Finance Minister Tito Titus Mboweni, who passed away on October 12, 2024, at the age of 65.
During the Special Official Funeral Category 2 service, President Ramaphosa delivered a moving eulogy, characterizing Mboweni as “a true servant leader who was admired and loved by the people; one who delivered on what was required of him in his role of public servant.”
The state funeral, which drew prominent figures from across South Africa’s political and economic spectrum, honored Mboweni’s extraordinary contributions to the nation’s development in the post-apartheid era.
President Ramaphosa had declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 as a final tribute to a man whose life’s work was dedicated to the service of his country and its people.
As the cortège prepared to leave for the cemetery, it marked the final journey of a man who had served South Africa in several pivotal roles.
Mboweni’s legacy includes serving as South Africa’s first Minister of Labour (1994-1999) under Nelson Mandela’s administration, where he played a crucial role in establishing the country’s post-apartheid labor relations framework. He went on to become Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (1999-2009), and later served as Minister of Finance (2018-2021) under President Ramaphosa’s administration.
The funeral service reflected on Mboweni’s reputation as an economic policy innovator and champion of labor rights.
His decade-long stewardship of the Reserve Bank and his later role as Finance Minister were marked by a commitment to fiscal discipline and economic transformation, principles that helped shape South Africa’s modern economy.
His dedication to public service and economic development has left an indelible mark on the nation’s history.
