On the evening of Saturday, October 12, South Africans mourned the loss of former South African Finance Minister and Reserve Bank Governor, Tito Titus Mboweni.
Mboweni died after a short illness, his family said in a statement.
While social media tends to be toxic, the passing of the former minister has had many showing sympathy and sharing light-hearted tributes to him celebrating his “colourful and humble life”.
Mboweni won the hearts of many with his social media posts that gave a glimpse into his personal life, especially his cooking adventures, earning him the nicknames “garlic king”, “minister of cooking” and “Twitter chef”. He had 1.5 million followers on X.
His passion for cooking - often shared on the platform - entertained the nation. Hence cans of pilchards also appeared in tributes to him on social media.
Mboweni had a fond love for Lucky Star pilchards.
Mboweni’s preference for Lucky Star pilchards not only attracted the attention of his followers but also that of former finance minister Trevor Manuel, who, in 2019, gifted him with a bag of pilchards.
One minute we are cooking lucky star with garlic, the next you are gone? It doesn’t make sense, RIP ntate Tito Mboweni☹️🕯️🕊️ pic.twitter.com/qKOFLFAeI0
In 2020, he also revealed that Lucky Star sent him a gift containing a tin of his favourite canned pilchards. The gift included a card, thanking the minister for his support.
Mboweni tweeted that he had no relationship with Lucky Star but enjoyed tinned fish curry.
For his curry dishes, Mboweni used onions, red and yellow peppers, curry powder, carrots and garlic, which he chopped and fried in a pan using olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.
He added the tinned fish to make the stew and he was ready to eat.
While many people loved the minister’s enthusiasm in the kitchen, some made fun of him for using too much garlic in his cooking.
Upon his passing, Mzansi netizens have called for Lucky Star to honour him with limited-edition cans that feature his face.
In a tribute statement, the brand said, at the right time and with his family’s permission, they will honour his memory in a way that reflects his unique contributions, with more details to follow.
“It is with heavy hearts that we, at Lucky Star, join South Africa in mourning the passing of Tito Mboweni. His leadership and dedication to South Africa have left a lasting legacy.
“Many South Africans will also fondly remember him for his imaginative and sometimes unconventional cooking, which became a source of delight and conversation around the country.”
“Tito’s authenticity and enthusiasm made him a beloved and unintentional celebrity chef. Despite never having an official role with Lucky Star, he embraced our brand with a sense of creativity and warmth that resonated deeply with people from all walks of life.
“At the right time, and with the family’s permission, we will honour his memory in a way that reflects his unique contributions, with more details to follow.
He was well known for his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of every South African, with a special love for good food, especially our pilchards. Tito leaves behind a legacy of dedication and care that will never be forgotten.
Farewell Tito Mboweni 🕊️ You will be missed pic.twitter.com/dDyUnVHQj1
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. May his soul rest in peace,” they wrote.