Tito Mboweni, South Africa’s first Minister of Labour after the end of Apartheid, has passed away at the age of 65. Local media reported that he died on Saturday night (Oct. 12) in a Johannesburg hospital, surrounded by loved ones, after a short illness.
Mboweni was a prominent anti-Apartheid activist and served as Minister of Labour from 1994 to 1999 in the Cabinet of founding President Nelson Mandela. Following this, he held the position of Governor of the South African Reserve Bank for a decade, starting in 1999. He also served as Minister of Finance during the first term of current President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a statement released on Saturday (Oct. 11), President Ramaphosa praised Mboweni as “a leader and compatriot who has served our nation as an activist, economic policy innovator, and champion of labour rights.” He expressed shock at Mboweni’s passing, noting, “Given his vitality and engaging spirit, Dr. Mboweni’s loss at 65 is deeply felt.”