Shabalala died at the age of 78 on February 11 after an extended illness. The special official funeral category two entails ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service. The funeral will take place on Saturday, February 22, the presidency said in a statement.

Ramaphosa had ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast at every flag station in the country until the evening of February 22. Regulations required that no other flags should be displayed when the national flag was flown at half-mast.

"President Ramaphosa has reiterated his sincerest condolences to the Shabalala family, members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and members of the arts and culture fraternities in South Africa, and globally with whom Ladysmith Black Mambazo has collaborated for the better part of six decades.

"In 2008, this world-renowned and widely awarded choral group received the National Order of Ikhamanga for putting South African cultural life on the world map through contributing to the field of South African indigenous music," the presidency said.

African News Agency