Hundreds of mourners and government officials gathered at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg to bid farewell to the late anti-apartheid activist and former deputy minister of foreign affairs Aziz Pahad.
Pahad, who died at the age of 82 at his Johannesburg home on Wednesday, was laid to rest at the Heroes Acre resting place, where some of the country’s well-known citizens lay, in a category two special funeral on Saturday.
He was buried according to Islamic rites.
President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a directive that the country’s flag be flown at half-mast.
Speaking at the funeral, Ramaphosa said Pahad would be remembered for his many fine attributes as an activist who played a formative role in liberation movements in the 60s.
“It is a sorrowful occasion for the African National Congress (ANC), for the SACP and for the wider democratic movement.
“He was a hardworking public servant, most notably as the long-serving deputy minister of foreign affairs, a position he held from when we attained our democracy in 1994 until 2008,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa further said they remained behind with a responsibility to ensure that Batho Pele did not disappear.
“We do this for the legacy of stalwarts like Aziz Pahad. We need to ensure that Batho Pele is restored, revitalised, and once again stands at the centre of all our efforts.”
Pahad’s son Sam Gurney said despite the sad occasion it was still heartwarming to see so many people gathered to celebrate his father’s life.
“The greatest sadness I feel at this moment comes from the unfairness of his passing before he could fulfil all of the plans that he had, but the joy comes from both my memories and the inspiration we should all take from him,” said Gurney.
Amongst the people who attended Pahad’s funeral was former statesman Thabo Mbeki and his wife Zanele Mbeki, former president Kgalema Motlanthe and Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi.
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