The spokesperson of the provincial premier, Sello Dithebe, said the Secretary in the Presidency, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, has in writing officially declared a Provincial Official Funeral Category 1 for the deceased MEC Makgoe. A Category 1 funeral is for Speakers of Legislatures and Members of the Executive Committees. 

Dithebe appealed to everyone in the province who has a national flag, that it must be flown at half-mast the night before Makgoe’s burial. Makgoe has been a member of the provincial legislature for the last 29 years, making him the longest-serving member.

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Makgoe lost his life alongside his protector, Vuyo Mdi, in a car accident in the early hours of Sunday morning 5 March 2023. The two will be given a joint memorial service on Thursday 9 March at the University of Free State's South Campus in Bloemfontein. They will, however, receive different funeral services. Mdi will be buried on Saturday 11 March and Makgoe will be buried the following day. 

Dithebe also stated the South African Police Services (SAPS) has a similar process for Mdi, as his funeral is automatically covered in the same manner as in the Official Funeral Policy manual. 

The Provincial Department of Education held four different district memorial services for Makgoe, at 13:00 on Wednesday 8 March at the Fezile Dabi District in the Phehellang Secondary School, Parys; at the Thabo Mofutsanyana District in Thabo Thokoza Secondary School, Bethlehem; at the Xhariep District in the Wongalethu Secondary School, Bethulie; and in the Lejweleputswa District at Kingdom Ministries, Welkom.

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Members of the Provincial Legislature have since paid tribute to the fallen giant. The speaker of the Legislature, Zanele Sifuba, convened a special roll call sitting in honour of Makgoe. 

Different political parties were united in paying their tribute and shared one view: "The Free State province is poorer without MEC Makgoe.” 

The department, under Makgoe as MEC, has been able to obtain the best matric pass rate in South Africa for four conservative years. 

The Minister of Education, Angie Motshekga, previously described Makgoe as one of the best in the country. “Tate was not only a resource for the province, but he was also a resource nationally. I have been playing Tina Turner's 'Simply the Best' to my husband, Ntate Mathole. After I received the news, I just played Tina Turner and said, Mathole, he was simply the best. Very sad indeed, may he rest in peace. The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) will never be the same again,” she said.

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