Life without Madiba begins

LIFE was slowly returning to normal in Mthatha and Nelson Mandela’s Qunu village a day after one of the world’s biggest funerals.

Law enforcement agencies from across the country were pulling out of the city in various groups.

In Qunu, scores of people and motorists pulled up to take pictures of the grave site – without a single view of the actual grave.

Yesterday three of four journalists were seen still lingering around taking pictures and interviewing locals.

Large groups of workers were busy dismantling the amphitheatre near Mandela’s grave and the dome.

Soldiers chased away motorists who parked on the N2 along the fence near the grave, but not on the opposite side of the road.

“We have been instructed not to allow any vehicles to park this side,” said a soldier.

Motorists and people on horseback stopped to take pictures, some posing in front of the military vehicles parked in front of Mandela’s home.

“I hope they will allow members of the public to view the grave in the long run,” said Thanduxolo Nodophu, 39.

Temporary employment for locals was expected to continue until next week.

Flowers and messages of condolence still lie at the gate.

At the Mthatha airport, the names of about 120 SABC workers were being called before they boarded a chartered flight to Gauteng.

Among them was the founder of the Progressive Professionals Forum, Jimmy Manyi, who said he was impressed by the hospitality of “entrepreneurial” Qunu villagers.

Manyi, who rented one of the houses in Qunu to attend the funeral, said Mandela’s uniting force was still alive.

“Going forward, I hope that people will go beyond the rhetoric of national reconciliation and be more serious in dealing with inequality and poverty,” said Manyi.

Transport and public works spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said the Mthatha airport, which had been closed to commercial flights and other air traffic, would be reopened soon as Mandela’s funeral was completed.

“It is still early to provide a report now as staff are still on holiday,” said Kumbaca.

The airport’s manager, Anderson Maduneni, could not be reached for comment.

Arrive Alive spokesman Tsepo Machaea said traffic was back to normal after all bypasses and diversions were cancelled on Sunday afternoon. The road restrictions had lasted 10 days, he said, adding that the impact had been minimal.

“Yes, there was a small impact where people had to travel more kilometres and that means more petrol. There were quite a number of collisions elsewhere but fortunately no fatalities,” said Machaea.

Provincial police spokesman Brigadier Marinda Mills said “every unit” in the police was deployed for the funeral.

She said it was the biggest two-day event they had ever managed.

It was earlier believed that patients would be evacuated from the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (NMAH) and transferred to other hospitals while the SANDF took over the facility.

However, health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said no patients were moved and the army had worked jointly with the health workers.

“Instead we added extra beds at Nelson Mandela Academic and health services were not compromised during this period,” he said.

He said mop-up operations started yesterday morning.

Mandela family spokesman General Themba Matanzima said no decision had been made yet about opening the grave site for public viewing.

The Dispatch learnt that a cleansing ritual called ukuhlamba izandla (washing the hands), where a sheep is slaughtered, was conducted at the home yesterday morning.

Mandla Mandela, his mother Nolusapho, wife Nodiyala and family elder Napilisi Mandela were in Pretoria for the unveiling of the giant statue of Madiba at the Union Buildings’ amphitheatre which has now been named after him. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za / lulamilef@dispatch.co.za