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 and spirit of veteran musician Winnie Khumalo through a traditional ceremony.

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

In line with Zulu customs, the ritual involves the slaughtering of a cow as a way of honouring the departed and guiding their spirit into the ancestral realm.

The practice is deeply rooted in tradition and is believed to help bring peace, closure and spiritual alignment to the family left behind.

Proceedings began on Friday with the slaughtering of the cow in Winnie Khumalo’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 the significant cultural moment.