South Africa: Cosatu is shocked by the death of former SARB governor Tito Mboweni

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is shocked by the passing of the former Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and Minister of Labor and Finance, Mr. We wish the Mboweni family, his friends and comrades well during this painful period of mourning.

Governor Mboweni played his part in the journey to liberate South Africa and build a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist nation. He has come a long way from the poor village of Bordeaux and the wider community of Tzaneen, Limpopo.

His journey from Bankuna Secondary School in Nkowankowa, to Minister of Labor and later of Finance and Governor of the SARB will inspire many young people and that, although South Africa continues to be a society painfully marked by inequality, it is a society where Shackles of apartheid and discrimination are being dismantled and the doors of learning and opportunity are constantly being opened. He believed that education was a lifelong journey and was rightly proud of his achievements at the Universities of Lesotho in Rome and East Anglia in Great Britain.

Although COSATU often fought with Comrade Mboweni during his tenure at Treasury and SARB, we never doubted his integrity or his principles. He was part of a generation of leaders who showed that it was possible to occupy the highest levels of power and not be tempted to plunder. Mboweni was frank in his opinions and where he agreed, he would acknowledge it, and where he disagreed, he would be honest and say why. He enjoyed debate and was interested in playing his role as an elder statesman in a society struggling to find its place.

Despite our strong commitments and disagreements, we respect and appreciate the historic role he played as the first Labor Minister of democratic South Africa, where he played a key role in implementing many progressive labor laws that today enshrine millions of workers’ rights to form unions. , collective bargaining and strike, which establish minimum conditions of service and protect the rights of the most vulnerable and exploited. He was one of the founders of Nedlac, our statutory social dialogue forum where government, workers and businesses have been able to create comprehensive solutions and interventions to many of society’s formidable socio-economic challenges, in particular those affecting the working class.

It was fitting that, in his final chapter, Governor Mboweni proudly returned to his community, Makgobaskloof, and became a tireless ambassador for tourism in this unexplored corner of the nation. His larger-than-life personality will be missed. The Federation offers its best condolences and support to his family, friends and comrades, and to his home, our ally, the African National Congress.

Governor Hamba Kahle.