Dr Beyers Naude to be Afforded a Special Official Funeral, 8 September 2004

PRETORIA - President Thabo Mbeki has decided that a special official funeral will be held in honour of the veteran anti-apartheid cleric Dr Christiaan Frederick Beyers Naude.

The decision of the President was given effect earlier today (Wednesday, September 8) when Acting President Jacob Zuma signed a Presidential Minute.

The decision to hold a special official funeral for Dr Naude was taken, as prescribed by a Cabinet decision, after the Acting President and the Secretary of the Cabinet had consulted with Cabinet and the Naude family. The honour of a special official funeral is reserved only for persons with extraordinary credentials, such as the late Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu, Wilton Mkwayi and others.

Accordingly the President has given instructions for the national flag to be flown half-mast throughout the country from Friday, 17 September, until Dr Naude's cremation on Monday, 20 September 2004.

A book of condolences will be made available at both the Union Buildings in Pretoria and Tuynhuys in Cape Town from tomorrow until the day of the funeral on the afternoon of Saturday, 18 September 2004.

Enquiries: Bheki Khumalo
Cell: 083 256 9133

Issued by: The Presidency
8 September 2004