Minister Naledi Pandor’s father, Joe Matthews, dies

The former national Deputy Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Joe Matthews (81), died of natural causes at a hospital in Johannesburg this morning. Mr Matthews was the father of the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor.

Funeral arrangements are being finalised. Mr Matthews will be buried in Cape Town.

He leaves behind children and grand children.

Mr Matthews is a former Member of Parliament and was appointed Deputy Minister of Safety and Security in the government of national unity following the first democratic elections in 1994.

Born in Durban on 17 June 1929 he was one of the five children of Frieda and ZK Matthews, a professor and academic lawyer at the University College of Fort Hare.After matriculating in 1947, Matthews attended the University College of Fort Hare.

He graduated in 1950 with a BA in English and History. He completed his LLB degree through London University as an external student while in exile. In 1965 he was awarded an MA in History at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.

In 1970 Matthews moved to Botswana, where he became assistant secretary in the Office of Prime Minister Sir Seretse Khama. In 1972 he was appointed Attorney-General for Botswana, a post he held until 1976. He opened a private law practice in Gaborone which he ran until 1984 when he returned to the United Kingdom.In the late 1980’s he lived in Canada and the Netherlands where he wrote articles for papers and journals.He returned to South Africa in 1991.

Enquiries:
Tommy Makhode
Cell: 082 379 8268

Lunga Ngqengelele
E-mail: 082 566 0446

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