Mboweni's death wish sparks row

FUNERAL: 'NO CONSULTATION BEFORE MBEKI'S REMOVAL'

- Eric Naki

President Cyril Ramaphosa's office has denied it was behind the removal of former president Thabo Mbeki's name from a list of speakers at the funeral of former finance minister Tito Mboweni at the weekend.

It is understood that hours before he died, Mboweni called his family to inform them that Mbeki and former ANC minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi should be among speakers at his funeral.

But Mboweni's death wish was not fulfilled after Mbeki's name was removed at the last moment in an apparent snub, although the family had put the name on the draft programme submitted to the state.

An ANC source blamed the Presidency yesterday, saying this was deliberate because they feared Mbeki would steal the limelight from Ramaphosa.

Mbeki, after being told by the family that he would be required to speak as Mboweni had wished, prepared his tribute to the former minister. But when he arrived at the funeral service, held at Nkowankowa Stadium in Limpopo, he found his name had been removed from the list.