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The large white tent in the center of Qunu village was the site of Mandela's funeral, December 15, 2013 (LI JIANGUO) |
After a lifetime of struggle, incarceration and reconciliation, former South African President Nelson Mandela will now rest in peace in Qunu, a small village situated on the green mountain slopes in the Eastern Cape Province.
After lying in state for three days from December 11 to 13 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Mandela's coffin was transported by air on December 14 to Mthatha, a city 45 km away from Qunu.
Members of the public formed a human chain on both sides of Mthatha's main streets, to greet the passing procession on a blue sky afternoon.
The cortege, preceded by military outriders, drove down Nelson Mandela Drive, where it was greeted by those assembled to pay homage to the man. Local people cheered their last greetings, many taking impromptu pictures and video clips with cellphones.
Some locals complained the funeral procession passed too quickly for them to say goodbye. A young man working at a BP petrol station said that people had three days to pay homage to him at the Union Buildings, but in his home province they didn't have even one-day time to say goodbye.
The funeral took place from 8 to 10 a.m. on December 15. It was attended by more than 4,000 guests, and ended with a private burial ceremony at the family graveyard attended by about 450 guests. Media presence at the burial was restricted to host broadcasters and service providers.
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Mbuyi Azazini and her seven colleagues drove 18 hours overnight from Cape Town to Qunu to pay homage to Madiba (LU ANQI) |
Mbuyi Azazini and her seven colleagues had driven 18 hours overnight from Cape Town to Qunu. "It means a lot to me to say goodbye and have a last look at Mandela," she said. "I will go to the funeral and want to see him rest in peace here." Despite being told the burial ceremony was a private affair, she insisted that she would try her best to get in to the proceedings.
With mourners and journalists flooding the small city of Mthatha, all forms of accommodation were booked out, with proprietors taking advantage by raising rates sky high. The burial site is set to become a major tourist attraction for the area, which will no doubt bring a much needed boost to the local economy.
(Reporting from Qunu, Eastern Cape) | 
