The funeral of murdered historian David Rattray, scheduled for Thursday at Michaelhouse school, is being planned to accommodate 1 000 people.
The KwaZulu-Natal midlands school’s chaplain, Alan Smedley, said on Sunday that the chapel could seat 500 people.
”Screens will be erected outside for more people to be able to watch the service,” he said.
Rattray, an Anglo-Zulu War expert and a pioneer of ”raconteur tourism”, was murdered at his home in the Battlefields tourism area.
Among the friends he had made, and hosted at his Fugitive’s Drift Lodge, near the site of the Battle of Isandlwana, was Britain’s Prince Charles.
Three shots were fired at Rattray. Police said he was hit in the hand, chest and shoulder and died instantly.
People close to the Rattray family are convinced that the attack was an assassination, the Sunday Independent reported.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Phindile Radebe said on Sunday evening that no arrests had been made in connection with the murder.
Leading businessmen expressed their deep concern at crime in South Africa following the incident.
In its front page lead, the Sunday paper quoted businessman and African National Congress National Executive Committee member Saki Macozoma saying Rattray’s murder was ”an example of the criminality that pervades our society”.
”It’s a great loss. He restored the dignity of the Zulu people and their history, and had people spellbound with his intimate knowledge of the Anglo-Zulu war.”
Johan Rupert, the chairperson of Swiss luxury goods group Richemont, described the murder as ”senseless”.
”Is this the society that thousands of people fought and sacrificed their lives for? People who do not believe that our country is in crisis with violent crime must be in denial.”
He said South Africa was not the society he had hoped to raise his children in.
”South Africa has definitely lost one of its great sons … he gave his life to promoting Zulu culture,” he said.
Rattray’s body is scheduled to be cremated at a private ceremony after the funeral, Michaelhouse’s chaplain said.
Two Rattray sons are at the school, near Nottingham Road, and the eldest completed his schooling there.
Rattray himself was educated at Pridwin Preparatory School in Johannesburg and St Alban’s College in Pretoria. He read entomology at the University of Natal.
”David spoke a lot at the school. He was amazing the way he could have the attention of 500 schoolkids,” said Smedley.
”That was an indication of his brilliance.”
Smedley, who was also a friend of Rattray’s, is scheduled to conduct the service. – Sapa