Funeral Service for the Late Kingsley Sithole

Pretoria: The funeral service for the late Kingsley Sithole, slained South African diplomat will be held on Saturday, 24 June 2006 at Eldocrest Primary School, Extension 7, Eldorado Park from 08h00 - 12h30.

The funeral procession will depart from Eldocrest Primary School for the Lenasia Cemetery at 12h30.

Sithole was one of the ANC Diplomats integrated into the Department of Foreign Affairs following the transition to democracy in 1994. He served in the South African High Commission in Swaziland before being posted to Harare as a Counsellor, a post he held until his untimely death.

Kingsley had previously worked for the ANC Department of International Affairs under the leadership of then Head of Department and now President Thabo Mbeki and current Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad.

Indeed, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma had noted, the Department shall forever be indebted to the invaluable contribution that Kingsley had made in the evolution of South African foreign policy.

On behalf of President Thabo Mbeki, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and indeed the entire Department of Foreign Affairs, we reiterate our condemnation of the brutal murder of Kingsley and express our hope that the law enforcement agencies will bring those responsible for his death to book. Our thoughts and prayers reach to all with his beloved wife, Chery, the children, and the entire Sithole family during this time of bereavement.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag x 152
Pretoria
0001

23 June 2006