Mourners gather for Mandela state funeral
by Staff Writer
2013-12-15 08:07:54.0
SOUTH African and international dignitaries, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, started gathering at a specially constructed dome in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday morning for the state funeral of Nelson Mandela.
His coffin, draped with a South African flag, was borne on a gun carriage as it was transported to the venue. It was taken along a dusty road lined by South African National Defence Force personnel. Cannon were fired, accompanied by a military band and parade.
Inside the dome, purple chairs were placed in front of a stage lined with two rows of candles and a portrait of Mandela, who died in his Houghton home in Johannesburg on December 5 at the age of 95. Black seats were designated for international delegates and special guests.
African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League members wearing their customary green dresses sang while other mourners blew whistles and danced.
Among those present were ANC stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, former human settlements minister Tokyo Sexwale, ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, former president Thabo Mbeki and several Cabinet ministers.
Britain’s Prince Charles arrived, after British Prime Minister David Cameron had earlier this week attended the official memorial for Mandela held at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Also attending were Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus and Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson and US ambassador to South Africa Patrick Gaspard took their seats, alongside businessman Patrice Motsepe.
Archbishop Tutu changed course on Saturday night and announced plans to attend the funeral after all, after earlier in the day saying he would not go because the government had not made him feel welcome and he did not want to "gatecrash" the funeral of his longtime ally and friend.
"Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata (Mandela) to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral," he said in a statement. "Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome there is no way on earth that I would have missed it."
However, government officials said the archbishop had been accredited to attend and would be welcome.
About 5,000 people were expected to attend the funeral in Mandela’s home village, where he spent much of his childhood. After the state funeral, the AbaThembu were to receive the body to bury it according to royal protocol.
Mandela will be buried next to his relatives at the family gravesite in a private and more intimate ceremony.
Meanwhile, viewing sites with big screens set up around the country — including the parliamentary precinct in Cape Town and Ellis Park and Orlando stadiums in Johannesburg — were quiet on Sunday morning, with only a few people present amid a heavy police presence.
With Sapa and Sapa-AP
Britain’s Prince Charles (left) speaks to Norway's former prime minister Jens Stoltenberg as they arrive for the state funeral of Nelson Mandela in Qunu in December last year. Picture: REUTERS
SOUTH African and international dignitaries, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, started gathering at a specially constructed dome in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday morning for the state funeral of Nelson Mandela.
His coffin, draped with a South African flag, was borne on a gun carriage as it was transported to the venue. It was taken along a dusty road lined by South African National Defence Force personnel. Cannon were fired, accompanied by a military band and parade.
Inside the dome, purple chairs were placed in front of a stage lined with two rows of candles and a portrait of Mandela, who died in his Houghton home in Johannesburg on December 5 at the age of 95. Black seats were designated for international delegates and special guests.
African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League members wearing their customary green dresses sang while other mourners blew whistles and danced.
Among those present were ANC stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, former human settlements minister Tokyo Sexwale, ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, former president Thabo Mbeki and several Cabinet ministers.
Britain’s Prince Charles arrived, after British Prime Minister David Cameron had earlier this week attended the official memorial for Mandela held at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Also attending were Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus and Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson and US ambassador to South Africa Patrick Gaspard took their seats, alongside businessman Patrice Motsepe.
Archbishop Tutu changed course on Saturday night and announced plans to attend the funeral after all, after earlier in the day saying he would not go because the government had not made him feel welcome and he did not want to "gatecrash" the funeral of his longtime ally and friend.
"Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata (Mandela) to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral," he said in a statement. "Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome there is no way on earth that I would have missed it."
However, government officials said the archbishop had been accredited to attend and would be welcome.
About 5,000 people were expected to attend the funeral in Mandela’s home village, where he spent much of his childhood. After the state funeral, the AbaThembu were to receive the body to bury it according to royal protocol.
Mandela will be buried next to his relatives at the family gravesite in a private and more intimate ceremony.
Meanwhile, viewing sites with big screens set up around the country — including the parliamentary precinct in Cape Town and Ellis Park and Orlando stadiums in Johannesburg — were quiet on Sunday morning, with only a few people present amid a heavy police presence.
With Sapa and Sapa-AP
