Days of mourning for Motlana

2008-12-02 23:06

Johannesburg - National flags will be flown at half mast from Wednesday in mourning for anti-apartheid activist Nthato Motlana, President Kgalema Motlanthe announced on Tuesday.

Businessman and Mandela family physician, Motlana died from prostate cancer on Sunday.

"Our sincere condolence goes to the Motlana family and friends. I declare from tomorrow, 3 December 2008 until the day of the funeral (Saturday), national days of mourning, and national flags shall be flown at half-mast," Motlanthe said.

He described Motlana as a "hero worthy of praise by South Africans for his contribution to what the country is today".

Motlana, a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, was one of the accused with Mandela and 18 others in the 1952 Defiance Campaign Trial.

Motlana was also detained after the 1976 student uprising, being a leading member of the Soweto community and vice chair of the Black Parent's Association at the time.

He was chairperson of the Soweto Committee of Ten, one of the organisations banned by the apartheid government on 19 October 1977 on what became known as "Black Wednesday".

Born in February 16, 1925, Motlana will be buried on Saturday, December 6. The funeral service will be held at the Wits Great Hall from 09:00.

A memorial service will be held for him at 13:00 on Thursday, at the Regina Mundi church in Rockville, Soweto.

- SAPA