Johannesburg - Former police commissioner Jackie Selebi's wife, Anne, said on Saturday that she never lost hope that he would bounce back from his illness.
“The last few weeks have been tough on us, when your condition worsened, but we never lost faith that you would bounce back,” Anne said in a message read on her behalf at Selebi's funeral at the NG Kerk in Moreleta Park, Pretoria.
“We entertained the hope that you would come home from hospital and bring laughter to the home.”
Jackie Selebi's death had left a “huge void” in her life.
Anne Selebi and their two sons would remember his laughter, voice, jokes and sense of humour.
She said her husband had a very big heart and that his generosity and kindness knew no bounds.
“Farewell my husband, may your soul rest in eternal peace.”
Earlier, the ANC deputy secretary general said that the truth would set the memory of Selebi free.
“The truth will set not only commissioner Jackie free, but the entire country free,” said Jessie Duarte.
“The motion that he was a corrupt cop cannot hold.”
Duarte said no one was infallible.
Former Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble said that Selebi had made the world a better and safer place for everybody.
“Thank you for your contribution to Interpol, for making the world a safer place,” he said.
Selebi was appointed president of Interpol in 2004.
“He understood the need for African countries to be fully engaged with Interpol.”
Noble described Selebi as brilliant, passionate and a good leader.
He remembered Selebi's contribution to his own career as a young secretary general, saying Selebi would criticise him fiercely at times but would also embrace him as a brother.
“My dear Jackie, my dear brother, you are loved, you are missed by us all.”
Earlier police commissioner Riah Phiyega said Selebi's fall from grace should not detract from what he achieved.
His career in SAPS 1/8the SA Police Service 3/8 didn't end the way he wanted,” she said.
“Let us never let that detract from the good that he's already done, the foundations he's already laid.
.”Let us remember Jackie Sello Selebi fairly.”
His election as president of Interpol in 2004 was a first for the country and the continent.
Selebi died last Friday aged 64. He had reportedly suffered from diabetes and kidney problems.
He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on August 3, 2010, for taking bribes from convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliotti.
The former head of Interpol started serving his sentence in 2011, after being found guilty of corruption in 2010. He was released from Pretoria central prison on medical parole less than a year later.
Sapa