WATCH | Here is what South Africans are saying about Mthethwa’s funeral food fight

Nathi Mthethwa

Cape Town – A video captured at the funeral of former minister Nathi Mthethwa has gone viral, showing mourners scrambling for food and drinks moments after the official proceedings ended.

In the footage, dozens of attendees can be seen rushing toward tables stacked with food parcels and bottled drinks at the funeral in KwaMbonambi, KwaZulu-Natal.

Some mourners are seen grabbing several packs at once, while others struggle to get their share.

Voices in the background shout and laugh as order breaks down completely.

The video has gained massive attention online, with many South Africans expressing shame, anger, and sadness over what they saw.

Some South Africans turned their frustration toward the ruling party, the ANC, accusing it of fostering the conditions that led to such desperation.

“This is what corruption has done to our people. Even at a funeral of their own leader, they’re fighting for food,” one user wrote on X.

Another commented, “The ANC has failed its people — hunger has no dignity anymore.”

“Such scenes are a feature in functions around many townships or rural areas. A lasting symptom of the unfinished economic transformation mandate, that ironically the ANC has directly failed on,” wrote Sihle Manqele

“This is not hunger—it’s the ritual collapse of a liberation movement into logistical scavenging. The ANC has normalized corruption in tenders, patronage at funerals, and the erosion of public dignity. We watched scavengers dismantle a nation in real time, masked as comrades. 🇿🇦🛠️”,commented Tyeluvuyo Qongqo

“They can’t manage a funeral. They can’t manage their own organisation, but some people think they can entrust them with the whole country – to manage it”,wrote Mazet Margay

Mthethwa, who died in Paris on 30 September 2025, was laid to rest under the Special Official Funeral Category 2 designation—an honour reserved for distinguished public figures.

He served as minister of police and later as minister of sports, arts and culture before being appointed South Africa’s ambassador to France.

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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele

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