Thousands of people, some in traditional warrior attire, gathered at a small stadium in Ulundi, the ancient Zulu kingdom capital, to honor Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) who passed away at the age of 95.
President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to him, acknowledging his impact on South Africa’s modern history.
Family members led a procession with the coffin draped in an animal skin and an IFP flag, while mourners, some in traditional attire, sat around.
The IFP Women’s Brigade chanted in Zulu, and various dignitaries, including former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki, attended the ceremony.
Buthelezi’s legacy remains contested, with some viewing him as a protector of Zulu culture and others as an apartheid collaborator and mass murderer due to the violence associated with the IFP.