Former president Nelson Mandela has called for unity within the ANC as the best form of tribute to Adelaide Tambo, the party's champion of the poor.
"Ma Tambo", as she was fondly referred to by speakers at her funeral yesterday, was given a royal send-off by politicians, pop stars, diplomats and movers and shakers from South Africa's who's who.
"Our movement has lost a stalwart, one whose spirit made it such a great organisation. May her death serve to remind all of us to strive for unity and put the wellbeing of the organisation above personal and sectarian interests," Mandela said.
"Adelaide was an activist and freedom fighter in her own right, and she was a mother to the liberation movement in exile."
Mandela said the ANC should return to the values personified by Adelaide Tambo in what he called "these challenging times" in the life of the organisation.
Tambo died on January 31 after a short illness. She was buried yesterday at Tamboville Cemetery, in Wattville, near Actonville, next to her husband, Oliver Tambo, the former ANC president.
Mourners included cabinet ministers, other ANC leaders, Irvin Khoza, the Orlando Pirates boss, Patrice Motsepe, the mining magnate, Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuza, the musician, and Kenneth Kaunda, the former Zambian leader.
President Thabo Mbeki was the main speaker at the funeral of the woman regarded by many in the ANC as their mother.
"We mourn the early and untimely departure of Ma Tambo she taught us the lessons of ubuntu throughout her life, not through words but through deeds," said Mbeki. "As we celebrate our 95th anniversary, we may have forgotten that our movement has lived and led for as long as it has because it is a movement of the people."
Mbeki said Tambo's spirit of ubuntu stood out even after her death.
He said some people who called themselves African still referred to "Tambo's people as barbaric".
"Ma Tambo willingly surrendered herself to the nation she did not hesitate to respond to the challenges facing South Africa," he said.
At the cemetery, the president and Zanele Mbeki, the first lady, waited for other mourners to pay their respects, throwing soil on the coffin, before doing so themselves.
The dignitaries sat under tents during the funeral service at the Wattville Stadium and for the committal.
Tambo's poor people, the people of Wattville, stood in the baking heat on their rooftops or at the periphery of the ceremonies to pay their last respects to a woman whose spirit looms large in the town.
Posters plastered around the town and near the stadium described Tambo as a patriot, a unifier and a servant of the people. In the stadium, the stage was flanked by two giant portraits of Tambo. As the coffin was lowered into the ground,Tselane, her daughter, wept.
The Tambo grandchildren stood over the coffin and bade a final farewell to their beloved gogo as sand was poured into her grave.
Earlier, Mosiua Lekota, the defence minister, attempted to calm ANC supporters who heckled IFP members at the service.
But the proceedings were otherwise characterised by solemnity as Tambo was fondly remember for her cooking, her taste in clothing and the caring nature that endeared her to so many.
Though lately a resident of a plush northern suburb, it was Tambo's wish that she be buried beside her husband among the Benoni community she served. Yesterday her wish was granted.