Rethabile Khumalo honours late mother Winnie Khumalo with traditional ceremony

Singer Rethabile Khumalo has gathered family and close friends at her late mother’s home in Protea Glen, Soweto, to honour the life of veteran musician Winnie Khumalo through a traditional ceremony.

The ritual, known as umsebenzi wenkomo, comes just over a year after Winnie’s passing on 7 January 2025, following a prolonged battle with health challenges including asthma and high blood pressure.

In accordance with Zulu customs, the ceremony involves the slaughtering of a cow as a way to honour the departed and guide their spirit to the ancestral realm. The practice is deeply rooted in tradition and is believed to bring peace, closure, and spiritual alignment to the family.

The proceedings began on Friday with the cow being slaughtered in Winnie’s honour and are expected to conclude on Sunday afternoon. Throughout the weekend, relatives, friends, and supporters have been visiting the family home to stand with Rethabile during this meaningful cultural moment.