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President Jacob Zuma has declared the funeral of Ms Emma Mashinini, a South African trade unionist, political leader and respected human rights activist, as a Special Provincial Official Funeral.

Mme Mashinini died on Monday, 10 July in Johannesburg at the age of 87.

The funeral service will take place on Saturday, 15 July 2017, at 8:00 in the morning at St Albans Cathedral in Pretoria.

Authorities have ordered that the national flags should be flown at half-mast at all stations in Gauteng on the day of her funeral on Saturday.

Mme Mashinini was dubbed the doyenne of the South African trade union movement for the pioneering role she played in trade unionism after having been forced to seek employment at a young age.

She served in various leadership roles in the National Union of Clothing Workers and the Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (CCAWUSA), which she founded.

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, in consultation with the family made the request to President Zuma to grant Mme Mashinini a Special Provincial Official Funeral in recognition of her contribution in the fight against apartheid and her work in championing the rights of the working class.

“On behalf of government, we wish to convey once more our heartfelt condolences to the Mashinini family and friends,” said Makhura.

Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government