Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Office of the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is seeking permission from President Cyril Ramaphosa to honour rapper AKA with a state funeral.
If Ramaphosa grants the request, the rapper’s coffin will be wrapped in the South African flag and a provincial government official will attend the funeral on behalf of the provincial government.
The premier’s spokesperson, Vuyo Mhaga, said a “state funeral is for anyone we believe has contributed to society. It is not about money. We are honouring the person’s contribution to the country. The family can keep the flag as a reminder that the South African government recognises their contribution.”
The rapper and long-time friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane were shot dead outside a restaurant in Florida Road in Durban on Friday night.
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AKA’s family announced that the star would be buried in a private provincial funeral on Saturday. A public memorial service will be held on Friday.
Mhaga said the president had not yet responded to the request by the premier’s office.
“The president can even send (the response) on Thursday evening. There is no money from the state. Therefore, the family is not waiting for the president to declare before they can start with the funeral proceedings. The proceedings will move. This is just a matter of getting officials to attend and the flag,” he said.
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