President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the late former Finance Minister Tito Mboweni for being a man of great stature who never lost his ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
The President delivered a poignant eulogy at the Special Official Funeral Category 2 in honour of Mboweni at the Nkowankowa Stadium in Limpopo on Saturday.
Mboweni, remembered for his immense contributions to South Africa's economic and political landscape, was honoured by dignitaries, colleagues, and citizens alike for his unwavering service to the country and his ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
“Governor 8 could relate to people from all walks of life. He was an empathetic man. He valued character over pedigree. And he was no cynic. He looked for the good in each person and usually found it,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa noted that while Mboweni was respected by leading economists, business titans, and labour leaders, he remained deeply grounded.
“Yet despite his stature and profile, he never lost the common touch. He had a gift to connect to people. He understood them and he had a way to make people feel special and made them have a sense that they mattered,” the President said.
Mboweni who passed away at the age of 65 last week, served as South Africa’s Minister of Labour in the first democratically elected Cabinet from 1994 to 1999.
Following that, he served as the South African Reserve Bank Governor (SARB) from 1999 to 2009.
His final official position in government was as the Minister of Finance in President Ramaphosa’s administration from 2018 to 2021. He resigned from Parliament on 1 February 2022.
A life well lived
The President praised the former Minister of Finance as one of South Africa's most illustrious sons.
"Our hearts are heavy because of this great loss, but we are also here to celebrate a life well led—a life that is replete with many lessons," President Ramaphosa said.
President Ramaphosa recounted the many facets of Mboweni’s remarkable career, from being affectionately called "Comrade Tito" and "Governor 8" to his roles as South Africa's first black Governor of the SARB and later Minister of Finance.
"He was larger than life because he led such a big life and touched the lives of many people,” he said.
The President recalled the pivotal moment when he asked Mboweni to return to the public service after he had left, to which Mboweni eventually agreed.
“He had already left public service when I knocked on his door asking him if he would return to public service as Minister of Finance. I just said Cde Tito your country needs you to do another tour of service.
“He agonised about giving up the material value he was building for himself and his family. But after a while he came through for the people of South Africa and agreed to serve as Minister of Finance. Tito was a true patriot,” the President said.
Mboweni’s contribution as Minister of Finance was marked by his dedication to fiscal discipline and economic transformation, steering the National Treasury through a challenging period as the country emerged from state capture and faced a global pandemic.
“Tito taught us that public service is noble and necessary; that one can serve with integrity and hold true to the important values, like faith and family. He strongly believed that it was important to give back to the community and country in which one lived.
“He recognised that serving others enriched the servant’s soul. To me he was the shining star that shined brightest in a maze of a dark period in the life of our country we called state capture,” he said.
The President also touched on Mboweni's lighter side, recalling his infamous brown shoes and self-deprecating humour, which belied a career of monumental achievements.
"For Tito, when you hold public office, perception matters," said Ramaphosa, reflecting on the lessons Mboweni taught about humility, leadership, and being of the people.
“Tito Mboweni wasn’t just incorruptible. He wasn’t just an avowed enemy of corruption throughout his life in public office.
“In time we will look back at those social media posts of Tito defending his infamous brown shoes that had seen better days.
“We may then read what was perhaps the deeper, intended meaning: That when you hold public office, when you are entrusted with leadership, you must be of the people. Not standing above them, not looking down on them. For Tito, when you hold public office, perception matters,” the President said.
READ | Dr Tito Mboweni remembered as a trailblazer
The President also spoke fondly of their shared passion for trout fly fishing and Mboweni’s lasting legacy as a true servant leader.
“Cde Tito and I shared a deep passion for trout fly fishing and would spend time talking about the skill of casting a line to catch a brown trout and compare that to prudent macro-economic policy management.
“I kept fearing that on Budget Day we would bring a dead trout fish to the National Assembly and talk about it,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
