Nurse recalls Jackson Mthembuâs last hours
By Staff Reporter
Nhlanhla Mbatha
Johannesburg - Sister Mavis Mahlakoane on Sunday described the 18-and-a-half hours she spent with Minister Jackson Mthembu at Milpark Hospital, where the minister succumbed to Covid-19-related complications on Thursday.
Mthembu, the Minister in the Presidency, was buried in his hometown of eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, on Sunday, in a state funeral attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who gave the eulogy, Deputy President David Mabuza and other government and ANC heavyweights.
Mahlakoane said Mthembu was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, January 19. The next day, she was assigned to room 3 where Mthembu was being treated. âMost nurses were scared to nurse him, saying thereâs a VIP patient.
Ramaphosa says he was sorrowful, heartbroken after news of Mthembu’s passing President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church during his official funeral in his hometown of Emalahleni. President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the eulogy at the late Jackson Mthembu s funeral. Picture: @GovernmentZA on Twitter
70 days ago
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday said it was unbearable that Minister Jackson Mthembu s loved ones will never see him again.
Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church during his official funeral in his hometown of Emalahleni.
Mthembu died on Thursday from COVID-19-related complications.
It was a glum and rainy morning when the late minister in the Presidency was laid to rest at the Pretoria Memorial Park cemetery in his hometown of Emalahleni, Mpumalanga on Sunday 24 January.
Mthembu passed away on Thursday 21 January from Covid-19 related complications at Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. He was bade farewell in an official category-one funeral service at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church near his home in Ackerville township, Emalahleni.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was sombre as he delivered the eulogy to a small cohort of family, friends and government officials. The funeral was limited to 50 people, as per the Disaster Management regulations.