Brett Kebble's detractors and the media were the accused in the dock at the funeral yesterday of the controversial mining magnate who died in a hail of bullets early last week.

Leading the prosecution were Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad and Kebble's business associate, Andile Nkuhlu.

But it was the tributes paid by the three eldest of Kebble's four children, Hannah, Andrew and Matthew, that touched hundreds of mourners who packed St George's Cathedral and listened to personal accounts of the man who was an art-lover, comedian, great chef, pianist, adviser and friend.

While a paucity of national ANC leaders attended, those in the Western Cape came out in force. They included premier Ebrahim Rasool, provincial chairman James Ngculu and secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha, as well as Cape Town Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo.

Captains of industry such as Brigitte Radebe, Saki Macozoma, Peter Gray, Tokyo Sexwale, Kebble's business associates, including Mafika Mkwanazi, Songezo Mjongila, Tokyo Sexwale, Sharif Pandor, and Lunga Ncwana, were also there, as were Tony Yengeni, Limpho Hani, Mbulelo Goniwe, Baleka Mbete, Dali Tambo and Mo Shaik.

Kebble was murdered in Johannesburg last Tuesday. He was 41.

No high-profile opposition politicians were present at the funeral, although the PAC - who along with the ANC received a donation from Kebble in the run-up to last year's elections - paid their last respects.

Kebble's sons, Matthew and Andrew, father Roger and brother Guy were among those who led the coffin into the cathedral. Other pallbearers included Ncwana and Nkuhlu, while khaki-uniformed ANC marshals formed a guard of honour.

Kebble's friend, David Gleason, read Roger Kebble's eulogy, in which the elder Kebble spoke of how his son had made "many enemies and many friends".

"He became a favourite target of abuse at the hands of the press, who used every opportunity to vilify him and still do," Kebble sen said.

In his tribute, Gleason said he had lost a friend who was deeply concerned about all South Africans. "Brett's murder adds to my fear for the future."

In his short tribute, Rasool referred to Kebble's donations to the ANC, which he said had not been as large as had been speculated in the media, as well as his good works in the Western Cape, including sponsoring creches and feeding schemes.

Nkuhlu, who with other members of the ANCYL benefited from Kebble's largess, referred to Kebble as our "young captain", who "steered the stormy seas of empowerment".

Referring to his black economic empowerment initiatives, Nkuhlu said that in a country "where being black was still suspect", having Kebble on one's side had been key.

Attacking the media for vilifying his friend, Nkuhlu said because Kebble supported the ANC, he was viewed as a " buyer of favours".

Pahad warned those who might want to make public what Kebble had said to them in private that doing this would be "highly inappropriate".

"What Brett said ... in private should remain private."

Kebble had courted controversy with "fortitude".

His murder had brought into sharp relief "the relationship between rights and responsibilities in a free and democratic SA, where the constitution is paramount and where the rule of law prevails", Pahad said.

But "media reporting on (Kebble's) life and business dealings has forced us to reflect on the degrees of responsibilities exercised by institutions of information". Such reporting was "unfortunate" and "obsessive" and had left many casualties, including Kebble's wife and family, who had been victimised by a "senseless murder".

"Are some of us losing our humanity and sensitivity that we don't think of the impact that what we say and write may have on the family ... whether in law Brett Kebble did right or wrong?"

People had a right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but Kebble had been tried and convicted in the media.

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and the Cape Times.