South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has come under fire for breaching lockdown rules on social distancing while mourning anti-apartheid hero Andrew Mlangeni.

Mr Mlangeni died last week at a military hospital in Pretoria. He was the last surviving anti-apartheid activist convicted with Nelson Mandela at the infamous Rivonia Trial.

A photo of party officials congregating in large numbers to hand over Mr Mlangeni's coffin to the family on Tuesday was shared online:

The casket has been taken inside Mlangeni residence to allow the family to view Ntate Andrew Mlangeni's body. #RIPAndrewMlangeni pic.twitter.com/G9IJAugdZc

— KhayelihleKhumalo (@KhayaJames) July 28, 2020

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalule defended the party saying the number of people increased spontaneously but the handover was done quickly.

"The people came forward and the marshals tried to push them back but it was held up for about 10 minutes and the coffin was released into the house and everything came to normal. Nonetheless, the ANC would not gather people and seek to address them in an environment of the coronavirus," he said.

The late Mlangeni's funeral is ongoing at the University of Johannesburg campus in Soweto and those in attendance have sat metres apart. He will be buried at the Roodepoort cemetery.