Pretoria - Former President Nelson Mandela’s remains will fly to his final resting place in the Eastern Cape at 10:45am on Saturday, family spokesperson General Themba Matanzima said.
“The body of Nelson Mandela will leave Waterkloof Air Force Base at 10:45 am. He will leave Waterkloof with members of the family, who will accompany him,” Matanzima told media on Friday afternoon.
Mandela’s widow Graca Machel and his former wife Winnie Madikizela Mandela as well as the elders will accompany the body on the flight to Mthatha Airport. The delegation is expected to land at around 12:45pm, where it will be met by family and the AbaThembu nation.
“From there, the convoy will proceed through Mthatha town. There will be two stops, the first being on York Road next to the old stadium, followed by the second stop at Ultra City for 10 or 15 minutes for people to see,” explained Matanzima.
From there, the convoy will proceed to Qunu, where the remains will be handed over to the family by the military.
“From there, the family will do their part, taking the body into the house of Madiba,” Matanzima said.
Mandela, who became South Africa’s first democratically elected President, passed away at his Houghton home in Johannesburg last Thursday.
He has been lying in state at the Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings. His body was transported back to 1 Military Hospital at the end of the day.
On Friday, the last day of him lying in state, hundreds of South Africans stood singing before the transportation of Madiba’s remains.
Over the course of the three days, approximately 100 000 people had made their way to view the remains of the former statesman.
At Friday’s briefing, the Mandela family expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Jacob Zuma and government for “the excellent arrangements made to enable the people of our country, Africa and the rest of the world to honour our father in a befitting and dignified manner.”
“The various memorial and prayer services, public lectures and condolences, remain a source of great inspiration to Mama Graca Machel, Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela and the entire family during this difficult time. We drew further inspiration and courage from the long queues of thousands of our people, who came to pay their respects to this icon and leader of the nation at the Union Buildings,” said Matanzima.
He said Mandela was certainly at peace, having been bid farewell by the people he so dearly loved.
“This is a constant reminder that Madiba belonged to the people. It was only correct to return him to the people before his getting back to Qunu,” said Matanzima.
Mandela will be buried in Qunu on Sunday. – SAnews.gov.za
