President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africa to honour the legacy of the late Ambassador in France Nathi Mthethwa by renewing their commitment to ensure freedom is advanced.

He was speaking at Mthethwa’s Special Official Funeral at the Siyanonga Sangweni Sports Complex in KwaMbonambi, KwaZulu-Natal.

He died after falling from a hotel room in Paris last month.

Ramaphosa says South Africans must continue to speak on behalf of the poor and the downtrodden in honour of Mthethwa.

“Let us honour Nathi Mthethwa’s memory by renewed commitment, by ensuring that the freedoms he fought and worked for are protected. By confronting inequality wherever it still exists. By raising our voices for those still voiceless. Let us live up to the ideals that inspired Comrade Nathi to fight for equality, justice, compassion and unity.”

Ramaphosa says one lesson they can learn from Mthethwa is his servant leadership.

“Later in his career, Mthethwa took up a diplomatic post, far from the limelight. That shift shows humility, the willingness to serve the country even without the recognition that comes with politics and limelight. True commitment means serving wherever you’re needed, not only where you’re visible. Leadership includes the sacrifice of ego.”

VIDEO | Ramaphosa delivers the eulogy Mthethwa’s funeral:

Kindness and love

Former minister and comrade in the youth structures of the struggle, Malusi Gigaba says his friend’s kindness and love of the theatre belied his courage of a thousand warriors.

Gigaba says the news of Mthethwa’s death at first seemed to be a cruel rumour.

He added that his friend’s burial is planting a seed that will live on, and the melody that springs to mind in the morning.

“We say Thank You our dear brother, rest now, dear heart. Your stanza in our shared song is complete and it was beautiful but the song itself the song it goes on. We will carry the melody for you, this is how a friend remains, eternal your voice will echo in our memories. We wish your family God’s strength and comfort. We trust that time will heal your deepest wounds, Nyambose, Dingiswayo, Nkonyane, rest easy, brother.”

The International Relations and Cooperation has described  Mthethwa as a true pan-Africanist who was passionate about peace for the people in the Western Sahara.

It is a disputed territory in north Africa, characterised by its ongoing conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people.

Dirco Minister Ronald Lamola says Mthethwa’s death has left a huge void.

“Even before myself, with the (former) Minister (Naledi) Pandor, he coordinated a number of engagements that were both bilateral between President (Emmanuel) Macron and President Ramaphosa, and if you could check, the rapport between President Ramaphosa and President Macron is very strong because of that work that Ambassador Mthethwa was doing between the two heads of states and in between the two countries.”

VIDEO | Ambassador Mthethwa remembered as a selfless leader:

Unity

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has vowed to ensure that violence does not return to the province in Mthethwa’s honour.

Ntuli says Mthethwa died at a time when South Africans are seeking unity among their leaders for the sake of nation-building.

He says, “Indeed, our citizens from all backgrounds and walks of lives have called for unity of purpose. They’ve reminded us of our collective strength lies not in what divides us but in what we can achieve together when we are actually guided by the spirit of service and shared destiny. ”

Ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections, Deputy Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala says Mthethwa’s legacy in rebuilding the African National Congress’s (ANC) presence in KZN and nationally is important.

Zikalala says Mthethwa did a lot when he worked underground for the ANC during Operation Vula in the early 1990s to rebuild the party’s presence in the province.

Additional reporting by Dries Liebenberg and Kholo Tefo.