Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has declared a special provincial official funeral for struggle stalwart Reggie Vandeyar, who died on Thursday.
This category of funeral is designated by the president for distinguished persons, the presidency said in a statement on Friday.
“Mr Vandeyar was an active delegate to the Congress of the People that established the Freedom Charter in 1955 in Kliptown, [and] was among the first three members of Indian origin to be arrested for MK activities in the then Transvaal. They were sentenced to ten years each and were transferred to Robben Island.”
In April 2014, Zuma awarded the National Order of Mendi for Bravery to Vandeyar for his “remarkable bravery during the struggle against apartheid and for striving for a free and democratic South Africa”.
The president had instructed that the national flag fly at half-mast in Gauteng on Sunday, the day of his funeral.
“President Zuma has once again conveyed condolences to the family, comrades, and friends of Mr Vandeyar,” the presidency said.
African News Agency