Mourners are gathering at the Great Hall at Wits University in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on Saturday to pay tribute to late former ANC Women’s League president Gertrude Shope.
Shope passed away in her home in Gauteng last Thursday at the age of 99.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that she would be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 1 ceremony.
Special provincial funerals are divided into two categories and can be provided to an outstanding or distinguished person on request to the president by the premier of the province.
The State, Official and Provincial Official Funeral Policy manual of 2016 states at category 1 ceremonies the national flag shall fly at half-mast at every flag station in the province — including the burial site or cremation facility — a day before the burial or cremation until the evening of the day of the burial or cremation.
For category two, the national flag flies at half-mast at every flag station in the province — including the burial site or cremation facility — on the day of the burial or cremation until that evening.
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A life of service
Shope lived in exile for nearly 25 years with her husband Mark and her children in Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, and in the then Czechoslovakia.
“She organised women and communities in the country as well as international organisations to oppose apartheid and alleviate the plight of oppressed communities while the struggle was underway.
“She also had the distinction of being listed as a co-conspirator in the Rivonia Trial, alongside Oliver Tambo, Joe Slovo, Ben Turok, Duma Nokwe, Joe Modise, Jack Hodgson and others,” said government in tribute.
Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the eulogy between 8am and 9am.
