By Celani Sikhakhane
· The former ambassador to France died in Paris last month and will be buried in a state funeral at Siyabonga Sangweni Sports Complex in Dondotha.
· His body arrived at King Shaka International Airport and was later taken to Empangeni, where family rituals will include a traditional night vigil and goat sacrifice.
It was a sombre and emotional moment when the body of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa finally arrived in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.
Mthethwa died in Paris on 30 September at the age of 58 while serving as South Africa’s Head of Mission in France. His body was received at King Shaka International Airport in Durban, accompanied by his wife of 13 years, Philisiwe Buthelezi-Mthethwa.
A special welcoming ceremony was held at the airport by the African National Congress KwaZulu-Natal Task Team. It took place next to the large statue of King Shaka, a symbolic location, as King Shaka was once mentored by the Mthethwa family under King Dingiswayo.
From the airport, the body was transported to a mortuary in Empangeni. On Saturday afternoon, it will be taken to his home in EsakwaMthethwa village for a night vigil and traditional rituals.
Family elders will perform sacred rites, including the slaughtering of a goat to welcome his spirit home and to cleanse the family of grief, a ritual believed to protect them from further tragedy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the eulogy at Mthethwa’s funeral on Sunday. The funeral will be held at Siyabonga Sangweni Sports Complex in Dondotha village, starting at 9am.
It will be a Special Official Funeral Category 2, with ceremonial honours performed by the South African Police Service.
The Presidency has invited the public to send condolences to the family by email at [email protected]. Condolence books are also available at the Union Buildings, Parliament, Tuynhuys, both King Shaka and OR Tambo International Airports, embassies in France and Pretoria, provincial legislatures, and ANC and premiers’ offices.
The funeral will be broadcast live on local television stations. Some roads between the service venue and the burial site will be temporarily closed on Sunday to allow for the cortege to pass without interruption.
Pictured above: Nathi Mthethwa’s wife Philisiwe Buthelezi-Mthethwa
Image source: Supplied
