Ray Phiri in 2002 with Astrid Christianson of Barberton Tourism and the artist, Jop Kunneke, during the opening of an art gallery in Barberton.

1.    The Mpumalanga Executive Council has welcomed the request by the family of the late Mr Ray Phiri to allow as many people to speak and pay their last respect and tribute at his memorial and funeral service scheduled to take place tomorrow [Thursday, 20 July 2017] and on Saturday, 22 July 2017 respectively.

2.    The speakers at both his memorial and funeral services will include his family members, representatives from the arts and culture industry as well as the political leadership.

3.    Ray Phiri’s family has further requested that their preferred artists which are the Friends of Ray Phiri, Stimela, Rebecca Malope and Masibuyele KuJehova should perform at both his memorial and funeral services.

4.    Both his memorial and funeral services would be held at a 10 000-seater marquee erected at the main parking just outside the Mbombela Stadium. Busses will be provided to transport mourners from the surrounding areas throughout the province.

5.    Ray Phiri passed on, on Wednesday July 12, after admission at Nelspruit MediClinic in Mbombela, and the provincial government subsequently announced that he would be granted a Special Provincial Official Funeral after the application for such funeral category was approved by the President of the Republic of South Africa.

6.    Since the President of the Republic has declared a Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 2, the funeral will therefore be led with some elements of the South African Police Services Honours.

7.    This means over and above the costs that would be incurred by the provincial government, the national flag shall fly half-mast at every flag station in the province, including the burial site until the evening on the day of the burial.

8.    The details for both the memorial and the funeral services are as follows;

1.         MEMORIAL SERVICE

            Date   :           20 JULY 2017

            Time   :           09:00 – 14:00

            Venue            :           Mbombela Stadium, Main Parking

2.         FUNERAL SERVICE

            Date   :           22 JULY 2017

            Time   :           07:00 – 14:00

            Venue            :           Mbombela Stadium, Main Parking

9.    The Executive Council wishes to emphasise that since the South African Police Service will lead the process, not all mourners will be encouraged to go to the burial site due to limited parking space.

10. The Acting Premier Ms Refilwe Mtsweni will deliver a keynote address on behalf of the provincial government at the funeral service of the late Mr Ray Phiri.

11. The media is encouraged to get their accreditation for the funeral service, at Ehlanzeni District Municipality on Friday, 21 July 2017 as from 10h00 in the morning.

Submitted by: Zibonele Mncwango / Mpumalanga Provincial Government