GOGO Masetla Dibetso's wish for her corpse to spend a night in church was honoured.
The Masetla corpse spent the whole day in the St Boniface Anglican Parish Church in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, on Thursday, 24 July.
A memorial service was held on Thursday, and later on the coffin with gogo's corpse was left inside the church.
Gogo Masetla died on 18 July, when African National Congress (ANC) members and the community had planned to honour her legacy during the Mandela Day celebration in Vosloorus.
On Friday, 25 July, mourners came in numbers to pay their last respects.
The service was conducted at St Boniface Anglican Parish.
Gogo Masetla's son Jeremiah Dibetso said it's a Christian practice for the body of a person who has lived righteously to spend a day in church before burial.
"It was also her wish for her corpse to spend a day in the church, and I'm happy we respected her wish.
"This also encourages others to live righteously. My mum loved people more than anything, and her deeds in life are outstanding and inspiring," said Jeremiah.
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He described gogo as a good role model.
"She led by example. She wasn't a rich person, but rich with an abundance of love. My mum was a nurturer and a caring individual. I'm grateful to have grown under her wings. She taught me a lot."
Gogo's mzukulu, Shadrack Dibetso, said her gogo was a great teacher.
"She taught me a lot about life, and ensured I lived a righteous life too. My grandma encouraged me to go to church. She was a spiritual person who dedicated her whole life to living righteously," he said
Ward 44 ANC Thelle Mogoerane branch chairman, Phutas Tseki, said: "We are here to honour gogo for the long, fulfilling life she lived.
"We must make sure we live in an honourable way as members of the ANC. Gogo must rest well, and we send our deepest condolences to the family."
Gogo Masetla was laid to rest at the Isaac Scotty Nyashengo Cemetery.
