Pretoria – The Funeral Service for late former President Nelson Mandela has ended on a sombre note, and family members and other invited guests are moving to the site where the elderly statesman will be buried.
Madiba’s wish was to be buried next to his relatives in Qunu.
The revered icon’s father Mphakanyiswa Gadla Henry, his mother Noqaphi Nosekeni and his son Magkatho Lewanika Mandela are buried at the family grave site in the Eastern Cape village.
After the funeral service was concluded, the body was taken out of the great marquee where it was held.
Madiba is being accorded a category 1 State Funeral, befitting an icon of his stature, which is being accompanied by full military and ceremonial honours.
Among the 450 guests who will be present at the burial site include current and former heads of state, deputy heads of state, traditional leaders, the AU Commission Chair, members of the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee, eminent persons, including business magnate Sir Richard Branson, religious leaders, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, premiers of the provinces, Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice.
Earlier, speaker after speaker hailed Madiba at the moving funeral service, with all paying moving tributes to a man the world has dearly loved who became known as the Father of the Nation and a Son of Africa.
Among the dignitaries present were royalty, current and former heads of state, eminent persons, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sinn Féin leader Jerry Adams, Sir Richard Branson and Madiba’s friend Oprah Winfrey. Famous actors were also in attendance, including Idris Elba, who played the role of Nelson Mandela in the recently released movie Long Walk to Freedom and Forest Whitaker.
As the ten-day mourning period comes to an end today, many will forever remember the unprecedented outpouring of love that was shown by South Africans and people from every corner of the world for Madiba.
It was a period filled with celebrations, singing, chanting, tears, sorrow and most of all deep emotion and a recollection of loving memories. -SAnews.gov.za
