Former North West Premier Kaobitsa “Bushy” Maape has been honoured in an emotional funeral service as family, government leaders, comrades, and community members gathered to pay their final respects.
Maape’s funeral service took place in Huhudi, in the Naledi Local Municipality, where mourners reflected on the life of a man remembered as a struggle veteran, former premier, and long-serving public figure in the North West.
The service followed confirmation by the North West Provincial Government that Maape had been accorded a Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 1 by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Presidency also directed that flags fly at half-mast from Friday, 22 May 2026 until the evening of the funeral, as a mark of respect.
Maape passed away in Johannesburg on Saturday, 16 May 2026, after a short illness. He was surrounded by his children and family at the time of his passing, according to the provincial government.
Scenes from the funeral showed a solemn atmosphere as mourners gathered around the coffin, with floral tributes, official honours, and portraits of the former premier placed inside the venue.
A message shared during the funeral arrangements also stated that Maape would be cremated, adding another deeply emotional moment to the farewell.
Maape served as Premier of the North West from September 2021 to May 2024. Before entering the highest political office in the province, he was widely known for his role in the liberation struggle and his service in ANC structures.
According to the North West Provincial Government, Maape was recruited into underground ANC structures in 1977 and later became a commander of the Kgalagadi Underground Machinery, which operated between Kimberley and Mahikeng. He was arrested in 1985 under the Internal Security Act and later imprisoned on Robben Island.
During his imprisonment, Maape continued his studies and obtained a BA degree in Psychology and Economics through the University of South Africa. He later furthered his education at the University of the Western Cape and the University of the Witwatersrand.
For many in the North West, Maape’s passing marks the end of an era. His name remains tied to the province’s political history, the liberation movement, and the difficult years of governance that followed South Africa’s democratic transition.
His funeral became more than a final goodbye. It became a moment of reflection on leadership, sacrifice, and the legacy of those who shaped the province’s political journey.