Woman of great strength and substance honoured

[caption id="attachment_34639" align="alignright" width="300"] HEAVEN IS RICHER: Ex-president Thabo Mbeki's mother Epainette, 98, is remembered with great admiration by those who knew her[/caption]

MAMBEKI was a woman of quality and substance who was always guided by the spirit of ubuntu. This is according to Nelson Mandela Bay politicians, religious and business leaders who yesterday paid tribute to stalwart Epainette Mbeki, 98, who died on Saturday at a private hospital in East London.

Former Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Nceba Faku said she was a strong woman who sometimes surprised people with her arguments.

"I remember when her husband, Govan [Oom Gov] Mbeki, passed away and there was a lot of discussion about where he should be buried.

"I was mayor at that time and we wanted to honour him and Raymond Mhlaba by burying them at the Red Location Museum, but MaMbeki was very firm that we should follow the terms of the will and bury her husband according to his wishes."

He said she was a stern, independent woman who remained very consultative. - Thulani Gqirana