By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Former South African Finance Minister and Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni has died, News24 reported on Saturday evening.

It has been reported that, Mboweni’s family released a statement late on Saturday night announcing the death of the former Minister,he was 65 years old.

"It is with deep sadness that the Mboweni Family announces the passing of former Reserve Bank governor and minister of finance Tito Titus Mboweni.The family is devastated by governor Mboweni's passing after a short illness. He passed away in hospital in Johannesburg on Saturday night surrounded by his loved ones," News24 reported, quoting the statement released by the family.

Mboweni became the first black governor of the SARB, succeeding Chris Stals in 1999 to serve for a decade. Before that, he served in Nelson Mandela's cabinet as labour minister between 1994 and 1999.