Lerato Mbhiza
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 on Saturday.
Pahad passed away on Wednesday, 27 September 2023, at the age of 82.
The longest Foreign Affairs DG in South Africa, Pahad was also a member of the National Peace Executive Committee during the peace negotiations, and served on the Transitional Executive Council’s subcommittee on foreign affairs during the post-apartheid transition of 1994.
After 1994 Pahad was elected to represent the ANC in the new National Assembly and appointed to the Government of National Unity as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs by newly-elected President Nelson Mandela.
Pahad’s influence in the government expanded further under Mbeki, where he played a prominent role in South Africa’s attempt to stop the US-led attack on Iraq in 2003.
He represented the country at the International Court of Justice in 2004, when South Africa argued strongly against the erection of the Israeli West Bank barrier.
In Africa, Pahad played an active role in bringing peace to the warring factions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Angola; and visited Saudi Arabia in March 2006 to promote bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries.
“Ramaphosa has extended his deepest condolences to the extended Pahad family who have in short succession lost Mr Aziz Pahad and his brother, former Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad, who passed away in July 2023”.
The South African Police Service will provide ceremonial elements during the funeral service for the former Deputy Minister, which will commence at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg at 10h00 tomorrow.
Ramaphosa has directed that flags be flown at half-mast around the country until Saturday evening.
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