Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande says he owes his first university degree to Professor Sibusiso Bengu.

Bengu was South Africa’s first Education Minister under the democratic government, appointed by former President Nelson Mandela in 1994.

He died in December at the age of 90.

Speaking ahead of today’s official category 2 funeral at the University of Zululand, Nzimande reflects back to his student days at the same university when Bengu helped him with financial assistance for his fees.

“September 1977, I had run out of funds to study. I was short of R100. It was a lot of money at the time and Prof Bengu gave me a loan. I paid him back when I started working. When I reflect and think about that maybe that was the beginning of NASFAS. Because there was no NASFAS at that time.”

Nzimande says that the best way to honour Bengu’s legacy is to honour current-day teachers.

“What we need to do is honour teachers as part of his legacy. We are saying goodbye to a teacher and a very good teacher at that. By the way, my wife was the head girl at KwaDlangezwa. And she said he never carried a stick but he was actually respected.”

Professor Sibusiso Bengu will be laid to rest in Mtunzini on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast on Friday.

This is expected to follow a special official funeral, category 2, at the University of Zululand

Livestream: Prof Sibusiso Bengu’s Special Official Funeral Category 2 at the University of Zululand: