×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Ramaphosa to deliver eulogy at funeral for deputy minister Bavelile Hlongwa

The funeral service for deputy minister of mineral resources Bavelile Hlongwa is being held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on Saturday.
The funeral service for deputy minister of mineral resources Bavelile Hlongwa is being held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on Saturday.
Image: Sandile Ndlovu

Mourners were arriving at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban on Saturday for the funeral service of deputy minister of mineral resources Bavelile Hlongwa who was killed in an accident last week.

According to the official programme, President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at 10.40am. He is also expected to be in attendance at the cemetery where the national flag will be removed from the coffin by the police and handed to Hlongwa's family. The Last Post and Reveille will then be sounded.

Other speakers include mineral resources and energy minister Gwede Mantashe and KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala. ANC Women's League president Bathabile Dlamini will pay tribute as Hlongwa's friend.

Hlongwa was returning from an ANC Youth League event at the University of Limpopo a week ago when she was hit and killed by a truck on the N1 highway. She had stopped to assist at another accident scene when the crash happened.

Hlongwa was born on April 14 1981 in Umzinto on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. She obtained her chemical engineering degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. At the time of her death, she was studying towards her a master's degree in public administration at the same institution.

She became the central president of the UKZN student representative council in 2009. She served on the ANC Youth League task team from 2013 to 2015. In 2015 she was elected to serve in the national executive committee of the youth league.

In 2017, Hlongwa was appointed deputy chairperson of the board of the National Youth Development Agency. Hlongwa was appointed deputy minister in May this year.

She is survived by her mother, four children and five siblings. 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.