Nelson Mandela: Coffin arrives in Qunu for burial

Nelson Mandela’s coffin has arrived in his childhood home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, the final leg of its journey.

Large numbers of people lined the roads in the rural region to pay their respects as the cortege passed by.

A state funeral will be held on Sunday for Mr Mandela, who died on 5 December.

At least 100,000 people saw the former South African president’s body lying in state in Pretoria over the last three days, but some had to be turned away.

Last respects

The coffin was flown from Waterkloof airbase in Pretoria on a C130 military aircraft, escorted by two fighter jets.

In line with tribal custom, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla accompanied him on the journey, speaking to his coffin to tell him he was on his way home to rest.

It arrived in Mthatha, 700 km (450 miles) away, shortly before 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT).

To solemn music, the coffin draped in a South African flag was moved by a military guard of honour and placed in a hearse to begin the 32km journey to Qunu, where Mr Mandela had wanted to spend his final days and where he will be buried.

People waving flags and cheering and singing – in places 10 to 12 deep – lined the route taken by the cortege through Mthatha town to pay their last respects.

Tears as well as smiles could be seen on the faces of onlookers.

“He is finally coming home to rest, I can’t even begin to describe the feeling I have inside,” 31-year-old Bongani Zibi told AFP news agency.

“Part of me is sad but I’m also happy that he has found peace.”

Nelson Mandela always said he wanted to be buried in his childhood home of Qunu

His funeral will be conducted according to the traditions of the Xhosa people, from which he comes

However, some people expressed their frustration that the convoy did not stop, so they had no chance to view the coffin as people in Pretoria had.

The cortege then drove through the gates of the Mandela homestead in Qunu, where it will rest overnight in the grounds of the royal house of Thembu.

The BBC’s Milton Nkosi in Qunu said it was a powerful moment for the local community to see their liberator coming home.

The Thembu community will conduct a traditional Xhosa ceremony – including songs and poems about Mr Mandela’s life and his achievements – in a giant white marquee that has been specially erected.

Some 4,000 people – including presidents from Africa, several prime ministers, the Iranian vice-president, and the Prince of Wales – are expected to attend.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu – a long-time friend of Nelson Mandela – has now confirmed he will attend the funeral, having earlier said he had cancelled his flight as he had not received an invitation.

The South African government had earlier said the archbishop was accredited, but that no formal invitations had been sent out.

‘Towering figure’

Ahead of the flight to the Eastern Cape, members of the African National Congress paid final tributes to Nelson Mandela at a ceremony in Pretoria.

President Jacob Zuma, other ANC leaders and more than 1,000 members of the organisation which Mr Mandela once led, attended the event at the Waterkloof air base.

It included a multi-faith service and a musical tribute.

Mourners heard President Zuma pay his own tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling him a “towering figure”, “a man of action” and a “democrat who understood the world.”

“Yes, we will miss him… He was our father, he was our guardian. He was something special.”

“We’ll always keep you in our hearts,” Mr Zuma said.

The coffin was flown to Mthatha aboard a C130 military transport plane, after a special ANC ceremony to bid farewell to Mr Mandela

About 1,000 members of the ANC, which Mr Mandela once led, attended the special celebration at Waterkloof airbase

Among them were President Zuma, members of Nelson Mandela’s family, his ex-wife Winnie Mandela (R) and his widow, Graca Machel

During three days of public viewing to see the coffin, long queues of people formed

Source: BBC