QUNU, South Africa: Nelson Mandela’s remains were returned to his beloved rural childhood village ahead of a traditional burial yesterday, the final leg of his exceptional 95-year journey.
A funeral cortege with his flag-draped casket entered on Saturday the gates of Mandela’s homestead in the remote village of Qunu, accompanied by a phalanx of military vehicles.
Mandela will be buried near the homestead, ending 10 days of national mourning and global tributes for the prisoner-turned-president who transformed his country and inspired the world.
“We are going to miss him so much,” said Lusanda Shasha, 17, as the cortege drove out of view.
Today’s funeral will begin at 8am (0600 GMT) with a two-hour ceremony for 5,000 people, including foreign dignitaries such as Britain’s Prince Charles.
But Mandela’s friend and fellow Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu is unlikely to be there, the archbishop’s office said Saturday. Tutu has been openly critical of the government and members of Mandela’s family.
“Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome, there is no way on earth that I would have missed it,” Tutu said in a statement. Earlier a C-130 Hercules escorted by two fighter jets carried Mandela’s casket from the capital Pretoria to his native Eastern Cape.
The homecoming of Mandela’s body was greeted by thousands of waiting mourners and a full military guard of honour.
A sombre mood soon changed to cheers as the crowd — many dressed in free T-shirts bearing Mandela’s face — welcomed the return of their hero with joy and pride.
“I’m just telling him welcome, welcome home!” said Mxhasi Mpikwa, in upper Qunu, born in the same month of 1994 that saw South Africa’s first all-race vote and Mandela’s election as the first black president.
Military personnel lined the route, along with small groups of people singing anti-apartheid songs and songs in praise of the iconic statesman. “He is finally coming home to rest, I can’t even begin to describe the feeling I have inside,” said 31-year-old Bongani Zibi.
“Part of me is sad but I’m also happy that he has found peace.”
Today’s interment will see Mandela laid to rest in the open spaces of the village that he so longed for during his years in apartheid prison.
Since Mandela died on December 5 at his home in Johannesburg, South Africans have turned out in the pouring rain and blistering sun to pay their respects.
Mandela’s casket left Pretoria with a send-off organised by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) which he once led.
President Jacob Zuma, flanked by Mandela’s widow Graca Machel and ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, said South Africa needed “more Madibas” in order to prosper. “Yes we are free but the challenge of inequality remains,” Zuma said, citing the twin blights of poverty and unemployment on the country’s economic progress.
AFP
