LALA ngoxolo Tata. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s loved ones bade an emotional farewell to him yesterday as he was laid to rest in Qunu.
The final ceremony at the end of 10 days of nationwide mourning had military precision and pageantry, evocative sermons and speeches, soulful music and traditional rituals as Madiba’s mortal remains were committed to the earth in the family burial plot.
ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, who was one of the programme directors at the funeral, said Madiba was buried “like a king” – in great style and dignity.
“This is the most wonderful send-off,” he said.
President Jacob Zuma led the mourners, with Madiba’s grandson Mandla Mandela, widow Graça Machel and ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela united in grief with the entire Mandela family.
South Africans shared their heartache as they watched the funeral service, beamed live from Qunu to viewing places, although the cameras were switched off for the private committal by Methodist minister the Reverend Don Dabula, the Mandela family’s chaplain, and a traditional salutation by members of the AbaThembu royal house.
In Mthatha on Saturday, the streets were lined by locals and those who, having missed the memorial service and official viewing in Gauteng last week, travelled from across the country to attend the parade of Madiba’s body through the city.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said they had advised the government against the body making two stops in town to avoid a catastrophe.
The parade nearly ended in a stampede after thousands of mourners broke past the police tape cordoning the streets and ran after the motorcade.
Yesterday’s state funeral had all the symbolism befitting the final send-off of the much-loved former president.
A military gun-carriage carried Madiba’s mortal remains to its final resting place near his home, with members of the Presidential Guard slow-marching in perfect formation.
Beautiful white flowers were arranged around the grave site.
As South African National Defence Force commanders stood to attention around the grave of their former commander-in-chief, a salute flight, including helicopters carrying the South African flag at half-mast, flew overhead, while a 21-gun salute was fired and the last post and Reveille were sounded.
The memorial flame that has burned at the Mandela Museum was extinguished as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
Earlier, Mandela’s casket, draped in the SA flag, was carried into a huge marquee next to his home by military officers, while mourners sang his favourite hymn, the Rev Tiyo Soga’s Lizalis’ idinga lakho, a prayer for the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Family members, close personal friends and political comrades shared poignant and deeply personal messages.
Mandela’s lifelong friend, comrade and fellow Rivonia trialist Ahmed Kathrada said he had lost an elder brother in “Madala, as he and I called each other”, adding emotionally “my life is in a void and I don’t know who to turn to”.
“When Walter died I lost a father and now I have lost a brother.”
Kathrada said his last visit with Mandela in hospital was “profoundly heartbreaking” as Madiba, “a shadow of himself,” gripped his hand.
Kathrada spoke of Mandela’s “abundant reserves of love” and other qualities which had been a source of enormous strength to many people in SA and the world”.
Thanks to Mandela’s work, he said, the lives of millions of people were better and would continue to improve.
Kathrada said Mandela’s death should inspire South Africans “to take up the cudgels that you have left”.
President Jacob Zuma said Mandela’s life had been an extraordinary journey and he thanked Mandela for “being everything we wanted and needed in a leader in a difficult period in our lives”.
Zuma said it had been a long and painful week for the country and Mandela’s family, friends, and comrades since his death last Thursday.
Without a hint of irony, however, Zuma, who was booed during last Tuesday’s memorial service at the FNB Stadium, said that as he watched mourners queuing in their thousands to honour Mandela, he wondered: “What is it about this man that elicits this outpouring of sincere emotion?”
Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, representing the Madiba family, thanked the medical team that had cared for Madiba and the support staff who had all played a role in his life.
But he also launched into those who had booed Zuma.
He hoped Mandela’s spirit would bring change for the people of South Africa, so that they could do away with corruption and concentrate on doing good.
The solemnity was broken at times by light-hearted reminiscences of those paying tribute to Madiba.
Granddaughter Nandi Mandela said Madiba was driven by “common decency” and had taught his grandchildren humility and accountability.
Mandela was a disciplinarian who was a lot of fun to be around; was a great storyteller and had a great sense of humour.
Among the expected 4000 people attending the public funeral service yesterday were British heir to the throne Prince Charles, Lesotho’s King Letsie III, Malawi’s head of state Joyce Banda, Iran’s vice-president Mohammad Shariatmadari, President Jakaya Kukwete of Tanzania, United States civil rights leader the Rev Jessie Jackson, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, Irish Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, former Tanzanian first lady Maria Nyerere and France’s former prime minister Lionel Jospin.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who appeared to be the recipient of a snub by the government on Saturday when it was confirmed he had not been invited to the funeral, was among the 450 people gathered around the graveside as traditional leaders and family elders led the final part of the ceremony.
But Ramaphosa’s delay in acknowledging the AbaThembu royalty, only welcoming them an hour and a half into the funeral proceedings, seemed to press home the concerns raised that leaders and ordinary people in the small communities surrounding Qunu had been marginalised in the final homage to Mandela. — With additional reporting by Sapa
HAMBA KAKUHLE TATA
The final ceremony at the end of 10 days of nationwide mourning had military precision and pageantry, evocative sermons and speeches, soulful music and traditional rituals as Madiba’s mortal remains were committed to the earth in the family burial plot.
ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, who was one of the programme directors at the funeral, said Madiba was buried “like a king” – in great style and dignity.
“This is the most wonderful send-off,” he said.
President Jacob Zuma led the mourners, with Madiba’s grandson Mandla Mandela, widow Graça Machel and ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela united in grief with the entire Mandela family.
South Africans shared their heartache as they watched the funeral service, beamed live from Qunu to viewing places, although the cameras were switched off for the private committal by Methodist minister the Reverend Don Dabula, the Mandela family’s chaplain, and a traditional salutation by members of the AbaThembu royal house.
In Mthatha on Saturday, the streets were lined by locals and those who, having missed the memorial service and official viewing in Gauteng last week, travelled from across the country to attend the parade of Madiba’s body through the city.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said they had advised the government against the body making two stops in town to avoid a catastrophe.
The parade nearly ended in a stampede after thousands of mourners broke past the police tape cordoning the streets and ran after the motorcade.
Yesterday’s state funeral had all the symbolism befitting the final send-off of the much-loved former president.
A military gun-carriage carried Madiba’s mortal remains to its final resting place near his home, with members of the Presidential Guard slow-marching in perfect formation.
Beautiful white flowers were arranged around the grave site.
As South African National Defence Force commanders stood to attention around the grave of their former commander-in-chief, a salute flight, including helicopters carrying the South African flag at half-mast, flew overhead, while a 21-gun salute was fired and the last post and Reveille were sounded.
The memorial flame that has burned at the Mandela Museum was extinguished as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
Earlier, Mandela’s casket, draped in the SA flag, was carried into a huge marquee next to his home by military officers, while mourners sang his favourite hymn, the Rev Tiyo Soga’s Lizalis’ idinga lakho, a prayer for the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Family members, close personal friends and political comrades shared poignant and deeply personal messages.
Mandela’s lifelong friend, comrade and fellow Rivonia trialist Ahmed Kathrada said he had lost an elder brother in “Madala, as he and I called each other”, adding emotionally “my life is in a void and I don’t know who to turn to”.
“When Walter died I lost a father and now I have lost a brother.”
Kathrada said his last visit with Mandela in hospital was “profoundly heartbreaking” as Madiba, “a shadow of himself,” gripped his hand.
Kathrada spoke of Mandela’s “abundant reserves of love” and other qualities which had been a source of enormous strength to many people in SA and the world”.
Thanks to Mandela’s work, he said, the lives of millions of people were better and would continue to improve.
Kathrada said Mandela’s death should inspire South Africans “to take up the cudgels that you have left”.
President Jacob Zuma said Mandela’s life had been an extraordinary journey and he thanked Mandela for “being everything we wanted and needed in a leader in a difficult period in our lives”.
Zuma said it had been a long and painful week for the country and Mandela’s family, friends, and comrades since his death last Thursday.
Without a hint of irony, however, Zuma, who was booed during last Tuesday’s memorial service at the FNB Stadium, said that as he watched mourners queuing in their thousands to honour Mandela, he wondered: “What is it about this man that elicits this outpouring of sincere emotion?”
Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, representing the Madiba family, thanked the medical team that had cared for Madiba and the support staff who had all played a role in his life.
But he also launched into those who had booed Zuma.
He hoped Mandela’s spirit would bring change for the people of South Africa, so that they could do away with corruption and concentrate on doing good.
The solemnity was broken at times by light-hearted reminiscences of those paying tribute to Madiba.
Granddaughter Nandi Mandela said Madiba was driven by “common decency” and had taught his grandchildren humility and accountability.
Mandela was a disciplinarian who was a lot of fun to be around; was a great storyteller and had a great sense of humour.
Among the expected 4000 people attending the public funeral service yesterday were British heir to the throne Prince Charles, Lesotho’s King Letsie III, Malawi’s head of state Joyce Banda, Iran’s vice-president Mohammad Shariatmadari, President Jakaya Kukwete of Tanzania, United States civil rights leader the Rev Jessie Jackson, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, Irish Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, former Tanzanian first lady Maria Nyerere and France’s former prime minister Lionel Jospin.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who appeared to be the recipient of a snub by the government on Saturday when it was confirmed he had not been invited to the funeral, was among the 450 people gathered around the graveside as traditional leaders and family elders led the final part of the ceremony.
But Ramaphosa’s delay in acknowledging the AbaThembu royalty, only welcoming them an hour and a half into the funeral proceedings, seemed to press home the concerns raised that leaders and ordinary people in the small communities surrounding Qunu had been marginalised in the final homage to Mandela. — With additional reporting by Sapa
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