The top brass of South African politics turned out yesterday for the unveiling of the tombstone of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's mother, Queen Thomozile Zulu.

Even a heavy downpour did nothing to deter a crowd of thousands, including the king, President Jacob Zuma, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize, from paying tribute to the queen, who died 52 years ago at the age of 33.

Yesterday's ceremony at the Umkhumbane Freedom Park, in Cato Manor, marked the end of a long journey Zwelithini undertook to find and lay his mother's remains to rest.

On Saturday, the queen's remains, which were exhumed in April and positively identified 25 days later, were buried in a state funeral at St Barnabas's Anglican Church, in Chesterville. Her tombstone was unveiled yesterday in Cato Manor outside Durban.

Zuma said the recovery of the remains "brought closure, not only to his majesty, but to the royal family and the entire Zulu nation".

He said it was a painstaking process and that it was fitting that her final resting place was Cato Manor, where she spent her final days. Her remains were found at the Wiggin's Road Cemetery, in Chesterville.