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30 December 2008

Senior political, civic and business leaders are expected to attend the memorial service of the late liberation stalwart and democracy advocate Cleopas Nsibande.

The service will be addressed by the acting Premier, MEC for Finance Mandla Nkomfe, Siphiwe Mgcina from Cosatu, and the regional secretary of the African National Congress (ANC) in Ekurhuleni Bobo Mokoena. The Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature Richard Mdakane will speak on behalf of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and Mrs C N Zikalala will speak on behalf of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

Nsibande died on 26 December 2008 at Glenwood Hospital. He served the ANC for over 60 years and was part of the 156 leaders charged for treason in 1956. He stood trial together with Chief Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo.

The memorial service will be held at the St Luke Methodist Church in Wattville and not the Benoni City Hall as earlier communicated.

Nsibande will be buried on Saturday and his funeral has been given official provincial status by the Office of the President of the Republic of South Africa. Flags will fly at half mast at all government buildings on Saturday as a sign of respect.

Details of memorial service are as follows:

Date: 31 December 2008
Venue: St Luke Methodist Church, Wattville
Time: 14h00 to 17h00

Directions: From Johannesburg take M2 east and join the N3 to Durban. On the N3 take the N17 Springs offramp. Proceed on N17 until Carnival City. Take the Carnival City offramp and turn left at robot on Heidelberg road. Pass the first set of robots near the mall at Carnival. At the second set of robots turn left into Wattville. Proceed on Dube Street and look for Xuma Street on the right. The church is on Xuma Street.

For more information contact:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
30 December 2008