Mbeki has the last word after being allegedly snubbed at Tito Mboweni’s funeral

JOHANNESBURG - After allegedly being snubbed from speaking at former Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s funeral this past weekend,  the former statesman - Thabo Mbeki - has the last word.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Mbeki confirmed the family’s request for him to deliver a tribute in Limpopo as Mboweni’s mentor and close friend.

But he said Mboweni’s final wish was not honoured when his name was surprisingly left out of the final programme.

Mboweni died over a week ago following a short illness.

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Mbeki said the Mboweni family approached him to speak at the funeral held at the Nkowankowa Stadium in Limpopo on Saturday.

A draft programme was shared with Mbeki – with his name included among a tight list of speakers.

While Mbeki was among the dignitaries at the funeral, the final special official service programme had all the names proposed by the family except the 82-year-old former president - whose administration saw Mboweni become the first black South African Reserve Bank Governor in democratic South Africa in 1999.

After being left out of the programme Mbeki said there was no rationale for omitting him from the funeral service programme.

Moreover, he added he accepted the changes without raising any questions because he believed finalisations were done for a reason.

Despite an offer by the Mboweni family to adjust the programme, Mbeki said he advised against it.

Mbeki has now released what would have been his tribute - where he again described Mboweni as frank, sharp and cut above the rest as he spearheaded labour, monetary and fiscal policies.