Masekela family ‘touched’ by Ramaphosa’s tribute to Bra Hugh

The family of late legendary South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela has thanked President Cyril Ramaphosa for paying tribute to the trumpeter during his maiden state of the nation address (Sona) last week.

National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete this morning read out a note from Masekela’s sister, Barbara, thanking the newly elected president.

“Do tell President Cyril Ramaphosa how touched the Masekela’s are by his tribute to Hugh. My brother is smiling. It was a brave and rousing speech, [there is] so much work to be done,” Mbete read, prior to the debate on the president’s Sona by MPs today.

On Friday evening, Ramaphosa ended his Sona in Cape Town by quoting from the song Thuma Mina (send me) by Masekela to raptures applause from MPs and invited guests in the house.

Masekela lost his long battle with prostate cancer last month after he was diagnosed in 2008. He was 78.

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