Special Official Funeral For Joseph Shabalala

Special Official Funeral For Joseph Shabalala – The founder of the renowned Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala, will be given a special funeral.

This evening the Presidency released a statement confirming that the musical icon, who passed away at the age of 78 last week, would receive Special Official Funeral Category 2 funeral, declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The statement further explains: “The Special Official Funeral Category 2 entails ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service. The funeral will take place on Saturday, 22 February 2020.

President Ramaphosa has ordered that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at every flag station in the country until the evening of 22 February 2020. Regulations require that no other flags should be displayed when the National Flag is flown at half-mast.

President Ramaphosa has reiterated his sincerest condolences to the Shabalala family, members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and members of the arts and culture fraternities in South Africa and globally with whom Ladysmith Black Mambazo has collaborated for the better part of six decades.

In 2008, this world-renowned and widely awarded  choral group received the National Order of Ikhamanga for putting South African cultural life on the world map through contributing to the field of South African indigenous music.”