On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the eulogy of Dr Alfred Bathini Xuma whose remains will be laid to rest in his home village in Manzana, Ngcobo.
Xuma whose remains have been repatriated from Johannesburg was the first black South African to become a medical doctor.
He was an activist and president-general of the ANC from 1940 to 1949.
The former doctor was also a member of the African American founded Alpha Phi Alpha intercollegiate fraternity.
Premier Oscar Mabuyane said: “The Eastern Cape Province welcomes Ramaphosa’s decision to declare the reburial of Xuma’s remains as a special official funeral category one service. The people of the province are encouraged to attend the funeral service.”
