Tshwane – President Jacob Zuma has declared a special official provincial funeral for legendary South African musician Ray "Chikapa" Enock Phiri who died at the age of 70, the Presidency said on Monday.
"This category of a funeral is designated by the President of the Republic of South Africa for distinguished persons. The president has instructed that the national flag be flown at half-mast in Mpumalanga province on Saturday, the day of his funeral," the Presidency said on a statement.
Zuma once again extended his deepest condolences to the Phiri family, relatives, friends and the music industry on this "sad loss".
The Presidency said further details of the funeral will be communicated by the Mpumalanga provincial government.
Phiri died in a Mpumalanga hospital last week after a long battle with cancer.
The guitarist was the founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970s and later went on to found the influential band Stimela which recorded best-selling albums like Fire, Passion and Ecstacy in 1991 and Look, Listen and Decide the following year.