Former health minister Manto Tshabala-Msimang’s husband has remembered her as his soul-mate and comrade in arms.

Friends, family and prominent government officials said their final goodbyes to the controversial politician in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Tshabala-Msimang died last week following complications related to her 2007 liver transplant.

Mendi Msimang wrote an emotive letter to his wife Manto which was read out by a family representative during the service.

In the letter, Msimang spoke about his grief and the void his partner’s death has left.

“My memories of you will be reinforced by seeing you in the faces of our children, our grandchildren and our great grandchildren,” the letter read.

Messages of condolences from former president’s Thabo Mbeki, who is overseas, and Nelson Mandela, who rarely makes public appearances these days, were also read out.

Mbeki called the former health minister a friend and comrade, saying the example she set will continue to inspire people.