Nelson Mandela's body flown home

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 14 Desember 2013 | 19.13

14 December 2013 Last updated at 06:53 ET
The aircraft carrying the body of Nelson Mandela

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Watch BBC coverage as Nelson Mandela's body arrives in the Eastern Cape

Nelson Mandela's coffin has been flown to the Eastern Cape region of South Africa for the final leg of the journey to his ancestral home in Qunu.

The casket, accompanied by senior clan and family members, was greeted at Mthatha airport by a military guard of honour.

Local people have been invited to form a human chain to pay their respects along the route to Qunu.

A state funeral will be held on Sunday for Mr Mandela, who died on 5 December.

At least 100,000 people saw the former South African president's body lying in state in Pretoria over the last three days, but some had to be turned away.

Last respects

The C130 military aircraft carrying the coffin, escorted by two fighter jets, arrived in Mthatha at 13:37 local (11:37 GMT).

The coffin was being placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse.

People have been invited to form a human chain to pay their last respects as the cortege makes its way to Qunu.

In Qunu, the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony in a giant white marquee that has been specially erected.

Some 4,000 people, including presidents from Africa, several prime ministers, the Iranian vice-president, and the Prince of Wales, are expected to attend.

Exuberant
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It was an exuberant send-off for Nelson Mandela. Members of the ANC sang and danced as though it was an election victory celebration.

The vast air force hangar was bedecked with the black, green and gold colours of the ANC. People wore white T-shirts with the words Rest in peace, Tata!

President Jacob Zuma dwelled on the history of the ANC, the party which Nelson Mandela joined when he first came to Johannesburg at the age of 25.

The names of ANC stalwarts of the past were remembered, those activists drawn together in no small part by loyalty to the icon of their struggle - Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Earlier, members of the African National Congress paid final tributes to Nelson Mandela at a ceremony ahead of Sunday's funeral.

President Jacob Zuma and other ANC leaders attended the event, which included a multi-faith service and a musical tribute.

More than 1,000 members of the ANC, which Mr Mandela once led, attended the ceremony at the Waterkloof air base in Pretoria.

Mourners heard President Zuma pay his own tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling him a "towering figure", "a man of action" and a "democrat who understood the world."

"Yes, we will miss him... He was our father, he was our guardian. He was something special."

"We'll always keep you in our hearts," Mr Zuma said.

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