PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki on Wednesday night had tributes paid to his late father Govan at a memorial service held at Centenary Hall in New Brighton and attended by nearly 17 000 people. The packed hall reverberated to revolutionary songs in praise of the veteran politician and his party, the ANC. Speeches were interspaced with ‘imbongis (praise) singers as they showered praises on ”Oom Gov”. President Mbeki, sitting next to his mother sat among the crowds but up front with members of his family. Regularly, he chatted to his mother and at times smiled as he listened to the poetic imbongis. An array of speakers was lined up in the programme to give their tribute to their hero. Master of ceremonies and ANC Womens League deputy president Thandi Modise, in her introductory remarks, said when a fatherly figure and dedicated politicians like Oom Gov dies, the whole nation mourns. ”We will miss his smile. We will miss this friend and father we used to confide in, a father of the nation. – Sapa