Kgoši KK Sekhukhune accorded a special Provincial Funeral

President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted former acting King of Bapedi Kgagudi Kenneth KK Sekhukhune a Special Provincial Official Funeral Category Two.

The Presidential approval follows the recent application by Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha that KK Sekhukhune be honoured with a Special Provincial Official Funeral.

LATE KGAGUDI KENNETH KK SEKHUKHUNE TO BE LAID TO REST

Kgoši KK Sekhukhune died earlier this month at the age of 78. He served the throne from 1973 to 2023 as Acting Paramount Chief and Regent to the Kingship.

KK Sekhukhune was born in 1945, first married Maakopi in 1976 and had seven children. In 1980 he also married Khudu, with whom he had three children.

SPECIAL PROVINCIAL OFFICIAL FUNERAL CATEGORY TWO

Premier Mathabatha has welcomed the decision from the President.

“We continue to send our heartfelt condolences to the royal family, the people of Sekhukhune and the Bapedi nation in general. I believe that the approval by President Ramaphosa is a befitting honour for a man who was at the helm of Bapedi Kingdom for 40 years since 1976,” he said.

“As Limpopo, we pride ourselves on being a rural province and our relationship with Traditional Leaders is sacrosanct. We are indeed honoured that this great man will be laid to rest in a dignified manner,” he said.

The granting of the Special Provincial Official Funeral Category Two means that all official flags in Limpopo will be flown half-mast on the day of the funeral. The funeral is arranged to take place on 01 July 2023.

In 2019 KK Sekhukhune challenged a Nhlapo Commission on Traditional Leadership decision. It had declared the late King Thulare Victor Thulare III as the legitimate King of Bapedi.
The matter also served in the Constitutional Court. It ruled in favour of King Thulare Victor Thulare III.