Western Mpondoland queen mother honoured

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a special provincial official funeral for Western Mpondoland Queen Mother Fikelephi Bhongolethi Ndamase, who died last Thursday.

This was announced yesterday by Ramaphosa’s spokeswoman Khusela Diko. The queen mother, 56, will be buried on Saturday at the Nyandeni Great Place near Libode.

She said further details of the funeral arrangements would be communicated by the Eastern Cape government.

Ndamase royal family spokesman Nkosi Mlimandlela Ndamase said: “This is the biggest tribute we can give her – to ensure she has a very dignified sendoff befitting what she would want and what she was as a person.”

She was the mother of Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndlovuyezwe Ndamase. She acted on the throne for more than 11 years.