Eastern Cape Provincial Government in partnership with the University of Fort Hare will hold a memorial service in honour of former Eastern Cape Premier Reverend Dr. Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile, on Monday, 22 August at Abbotsford Christian Centre in East London, at 10h00.
Members of the media are invited to attend. “Bro Stof” as he was affectionately known died on Monday, 15 of August 2016.
Premier Mr Phumulo Masualle had earlier visited the Stofile family at their Alice home to convey his heartfelt condolences at the passing of the second Premier of the Eastern Cape.
Announcing the sad news of his passing at a special Public Servants prayer gathering at Bhisho Community Church, Premier Masualle described Dr Stofile as a father figure, a leader and a representative of the country abroad. He said the former Premier had touched many within the Provincial Government in various ways and that his passing was a great loss to the province and country at large.
Reverend Dr. Stofile was requested by the ruling party to leave Parliament as the Chief Whip and become Premier after the first Premier of the Province Mr. Raymond Mhlaba was assigned on a new task in 1998. “Bro Stof” finished the two year remainder of Mr Mhlaba’s term and went on to start a new one which ended in 2004.
After his Premiership term, Dr. Stofile was appointed as the Minister of Sport and Recreation and later as the South African Ambassador to Federal Republic of Germany, a position he has held until this year. At the time of his death he was the Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare.
His funeral which will be held in Alice on Thursday, 25 August 2016 has been declared a Special Official Funeral by President Jacob Zuma.
As from Wednesday this week, flags have been flying at half-mast at all flag stations. This will be done until the day of the funeral as it is a standard procedure for funerals of this nature.
Condolences books will be placed at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, National Parliament, Office of The Premier, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, University of Fort Hare and his family home.
Enquiries:
Sizwe Kupelo
Eastern Cape Government Spokesperson
Cell: 083 378 0196
