The funeral service of the late IFP founder and AmaZulu traditional prime minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been moved to Saturday.
In an earlier announcement on Sunday, the family said Buthelezi would be laid to rest on Friday.
However, it made a U-turn on Tuesday, announcing that the change will allow for state processes to be accommodated.
This after President Cyril Ramaphosa accorded Buthelezi a special official funeral category one.
“The state, official and provincial official funeral policy of government accords special official funerals category one to persons of extraordinary credentials,” said the Presidency in a statement.
Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for Ramaphosa, said these types of funerals are specifically designated by the president.
Ramaphosa has directed that the flag be flown at half-mast at flag stations across the country from Tuesday until the evening of the day of the funeral.
Buthelezi passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning, a week after he was released from the hospital and two weeks after he turned 95.
He took his last breath at his ancestral home in eMahlabathini near Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal.
Before his release from the hospital, his family announced that he was recovering after he spent several weeks under the care of doctors for a back pain.
While in hospital, the founder of the IFP suffered more complications and was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Led by Floyd Shivambu, the EFF leadership was among political parties that visited Buthelezi’s home to pay their last respects on Tuesday.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
