‘South Africa is in serious problems’: Thabo Mbeki pays tribute to late advisor Titus Mafolo

Former President Thabo Mbeki has called on public servants to follow in the footsteps of the late anti-apartheid activist Titus Mafolo.

Mbeki made the remarks during Mafolo’s funeral service in Johannesburg on Friday. The 69-year-old passed away last week following a short illness.

READ: Thabo Mbeki pays tribute to 'well-grounded revolutionary' Titus Mafolo

A prominent ANC member and businessman, Mafolo also served as a key political adviser to Mbeki during his presidential term. Since his passing, Mafolo has been hailed as an exemplary leader and a pivotal figure in shaping post-democratic South Africa.

Addressing the mourners, Mbeki stated that the country is poorer without Mafolo’s guidance, particularly as South Africa faces significant internal and systemic hurdles.

"Titus has left us too early because the ANC is in problems, serious problems. South Africa is in serious problems," Mbeki said. "I don't know about yourselves, but me, I don't know where South Africa will be tomorrow. Where are we going? How are we going to solve all of these problems, whether it's crime or the economy, unemployment, this and that and the other? We need Titus Mafolo to be with us to say, ‘to get out of this problem, this is what we need to do’."

Mbeki emphasised that the most meaningful way to honour Mafolo’s memory is for current leaders and public servants to pick up where he left off and commit to honest nation-building.

“Because he's no longer with us, at least a tribute we should pay to him is to say, we too will do our best to answer that question honestly about where South Africa should be tomorrow,” Mbeki concluded.