Pretoria- The late former President Nelson Mandela’s coffin has left the capital city and is making its way to his final resting place in the Eastern Cape.
It was a sombre mood at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria as the C-130 aircraft carrying Madiba’s body took off.
The aircraft took off at noon for Mthatha Airport. His body will then be taken in a procession to Qunu, where he spent most of his childhood years.
The military had formed a guard of honour, along with President Jacob Zuma and Madiba's grandchildren, around the aircraft, as his casket, draped in the South African flag, was taken into the aircraft.
The South African National Anthem was then played by the SANDF band as officers stood to attention and saluted before the aircraft was prepared for takeoff.
Madiba’s mortal remains are being accompanied by members of the Mandela family.
The African National Congress this morning held an emotional send-off ceremony in a hangar at the Airbase.
In moving tributes by ANC stalwarts, and its alliance partners , Mandela’s widow Graca Machel wiped away tears as she was given the ANC flag which had been draped over her husband's coffin.
Machel repeatedly dabbed her eyes after receiving the carefully folded black, gold, and green flag.
Mandela's grandsons thanked members of ruling party for the glorious ceremony, adding that without the ANC the world would not have known Nelson Mandela.
ANC President Jacob Zuma hailed Mandela as great thinker, a man of peace, unity, negotiator and a revolutionary.
"He [Mandela] combined two things that are not easy to do: to combine theory and practice." - SAnews.gov.za
