Events on Saturday in the Eastern Cape, as former president Nelson Mandela’s body returned to his hometown of Qunu, can be described as: "He came, they glimpsed, he was gone, and then they cheered and celebrated."
Expectations of the final homecoming of the most revered son of this land built up for more than a week following his death on Thursday, December 5, and what seemed for many a torturous wait was finally over.
Mandela’s official state funeral will take place on Sunday, December 15, with the final rites to be performed on Monday, December 16.
Saturday morning seemed slow to start. It was a beautiful day, if hot, with clouds only starting to gather towards noon, though no rain fell.
The convoy bearing Mandela’s body arrived on schedule at Mthatha Airport just after 1pm and, after some preliminary events including a guard of honour and a meeting of dignitaries, it set off to Qunu at about 1.45pm.
In depth: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918- 2013
News and views on the death, and life, of former president Nelson Mandela, with tributes and photographsAt about 3pm it passed the African National Congress offices in Nelson Mandela Drive.
A crowd of ANC Women’s League members dressed in party colours, who had been singing for about two hours already, raised their voices. There was a cheer from the crowd. And in seconds the procession was gone.
But the cheering and singing intensified for a while longer as people ran after the convoy and split into smaller groups to toyi-toyi and sing. Even cars transporting photographers were cheered.
One of the bystanders, Aron Maneli, said he had come to pay his respects to Mandela. "Nothing else matters at this moment," he said.
Another, Khonzi Mani, said more could have been done to welcome Mandela. "Look at the state of this town," he said pointing to the potholes in the road, litter and broken pavements.
In the main, though, it was cheering and celebration for most.
Probably the most poignant salute to Mandela came from an old man who sat on the pavement, took a half-jack of whiskey out of his pocket, poured a tot and raised it in the direction of the convoy as it sped on its way.
