South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver remarks at the funeral of US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson in Chicago on Saturday at the request of the Jackson family.

In a statement, the South African presidency said Ramaphosa had described Jackson’s “irrepressible campaigns against apartheid and his support for the liberation struggle” as a towering contribution to the international movement that helped bring an end to white minority rule.

Jackson, who died last month at the age of 84 after battling a neurological disorder affecting his speech and mobility alongside a long-standing diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, was one of the most prominent American voices advocating for sanctions and international pressure against the apartheid government during the 1970s and 1980s.

Jackson rose to prominence in the US civil rights movement. Beyond the United States, he became a global advocate for racial justice, frequently linking the American civil rights movement with the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

The funeral in Chicago will follow a public homegoing ceremony on Friday at the House of Hope, a 10,000-seat venue expected to draw leading figures from the Democratic Party. Former first families, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, are expected to attend.

Musical tributes are scheduled from singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, along with gospel artists Marvin Winans and BeBe Winans.