Hundreds of mourners, including government officials, African National Congress (ANC) struggle stalwarts and Cabinet ministers led by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa converged at Johannesburg’s West Park cemetery to lay anti-apartheid hero Ahmed Kathrada to rest on Wednesday.

Security was tight around the huge marquee set in the centre of the cemetery, a few meters from the grave. Police cordoned off the burial area, prohibiting vehicles in order to make it easy for mourners to walk about.

The funeral is being conducted according to Muslim religious rites, although other faith leaders such as Anglican Bishop Thabo Makgoba were present and conducted an inter-faith session as well.

Two tables with message books were set at the entrance of the marquee where mourners wrote their messages of condolences. Leaders of opposition parties such as the Congress of the People (Cope) led by Mosioua Lekota, Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) leader Julius Malema attended the funeral. North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo was also among the mourners.

Speakers for the formal proceedings include Gauteng Premier David Makhura, South African Communist Party secretary Gwede Mantashe, former president Kgalema Motlanthe, who is to deliver the eulogy.

President Jacob Zuma, who is not attending the funeral, has however, declared a “special funeral” for Kathrada.

Kathrada, who died on Tuesday after a short illness following surgery to the brain, is survived by his partner, Barbara Hogan, also an ANC veteran and former Cabinet minister. He was 87.