President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has accorded former Robben Island prisoner Lazarus !Guiteb a full military funeral.

!Guiteb died on 15 July at the age of 82.

The decision to grant !Guiteb a full military funeral was made 36 days after the announcement that there would be no more official funerals until the current criteria had been reviewed.

However, a statement from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology says that, in accordance with the new arrangement, President Nandi-Ndaitwah may still accord such honours to individuals depending on the circumstances.

These circumstances are guided by the National Honours Act.

A full military funeral is granted to soldiers who died in service or after having retired in a dignified manner.

The ministry said that !Guiteb was a registered war veteran, adding that Robben Island prisoners were associated with the liberation struggle either through active participation as trained combatants or through their political activities.

With this official funeral granted, the state takes full responsibility for the conduct of !Guiteb’s funeral.