Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa to be laid to rest today

The South African Ambassador to France and Monaco, Nathi Mthethwa, will be laid to rest on Sunday at his homestead in KwaMbonambi, in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The government official died last week in Paris, France, in what was suspected to be a suicide. His mortal remains were brought back to South African soil on Friday.

Mthethwa has been granted a Special Official Funeral, Category 2, where President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy.

Thousands are expected to gather at Dondatha Stadium in KwaMbonambi, northern KZN, to bid a final farewell to the late ambassador. Government officials, police top brass, traditional and religious leaders, together with members of the public, are set to attend the funeral.

As the nation bids a final farewell, Mthethwa’s former colleague and friend, Dr Malusi Gigaba, said the African National Congress (ANC) has a responsibility to ensure that his memory lives forever.

"We have continuously talked about him to educate young people about his life, to interpret his life under current conditions so that young people are able to draw lessons from the type of person that he was,” said Dr Gigaba.

The funeral procession is set to get underway at 08:30 this morning.