Madala Alfred Mabulannga, who was recently crowned the best farmer during the Dzindi Irrigation Scheme Farmer of the Year competition, has died.

Vho Chief (57), as he was popularly known in the community, died on 26 June, after a long but unspecified illness.

Mabulannga, of Tshalovha outside Thohoyandou, was the son of Rev Jack Mabulannga, one of the founders of the Assemblies of God Church in the Vhembe region.

Himself a staunch member of the church, he was buried during a service on Sunday. It was attended by thousands of people, who included friends, church and community members. The service was conducted by Dr Booi Mbedzi of the Assemblies of God Thohoyandou.

A motorcade of more than a kilometre snailed all the way to the local Matieni Cemetery, where he was finally laid to rest.

Mabulannga was described as a leader who served his community selflessly. He was a hardworking small-scale farmer, but because of his illness he could not attend the recent competition where he was declared the overall winner.

He was born in 1956 at the old Tshitungulwane in the Vuwani area. He worked as a municipal policeman and for different companies before retiring to start farming. He is survived by his parents, siblings, his children and grandchildren.