Minister Meth honoured Tito Mboweni’s contributions to South Africa’s labour laws and economic policies. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers
Tito Mboweni will be remembered for his contribution to the labour law framework and economic development of South Africa, Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth said.
“I am deeply shocked and pained by the passing away of this comrade and colleague, Mboweni. It seemed so sudden and unexpected,” Meth said.
“In Mboweni, we have lost a brilliant, astute, and selfless activist. He will be remembered for his contribution to the labour law framework and economic development of the country. He will be sorely missed.”
Meth expressed condolences on the passing of Mboweni, who was South Africa’s first labour minister from May 1994 to July 1998. He was appointed by the late former president Nelson Mandela.
His playful online presence earned him affectionate nicknames like “Uncle Tito” and “The Duke” of Magoebaskloof, Meth said.
Mboweni died on Saturday night after a short illness, his family said in a statement. He was 65.
Mboweni, a seasoned African National Congress (ANC) political activist, played a pivotal role in shaping South Africa’s post-apartheid labour legislation, she said.
Meth said Mboweni was instrumental in the development of key laws such as the Labour Relations Act, the Employment Equity Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
These legislations facilitated collective bargaining and the establishment of labour courts, laying a strong foundation for worker rights in the country.
Having been selected by the ANC leadership to study economics, Mboweni later returned to contribute to South Africa’s economic growth and labour market transformation.
He completed his BA Honours in Economics and Political Science at the National University of Lesotho and earned a Master’s in Development Economics from the University of East Anglia in 1988, she said.
Meth also noted that Mboweni’s legacy is marked by his collaboration with the Tripartite Alliance, which includes the ANC, SA Communist Party, and Congress of the SA Trade Unions, to establish a robust labour framework that protects workers' rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
His peers and former union leaders widely respect him for making the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) accessible to ordinary citizens during his tenure as the eighth Governor from 1999 to 2009.
After serving as finance minister from October 2018 to August 2021, Mboweni’s leadership saw South Africa’s GDP rise by 6.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020, reflecting his astute economic policies.
In addition to his political and economic contributions, Mboweni endeared himself to many as the “Twitter Chef,” showcasing his culinary skills on social media.
IOL Politics