NELSPRUIT – The largest mourning exercise the country has ever seen concluded on Sunday when the late former president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was laid to rest. The former president of the ANC was buried during a state funeral near his birthplace at Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
Mpumalanga premier, Mr David Mabuza, attended the funeral representing the provincial government. Some local ANC members also attended in their personal capacity.
Ever since news broke of this death late on December 5, the country has been in mourning. Various memorial services were held accross the country and province, not least of which was a service last Tuesday at Mbombela Stadium, where visitors could view the official service held at the FNB Stadium in Gauteng. The service as well as the funeral had current and former heads of government and state from all over the world pay their respects to the man who symbolised the hopes of a nation both before and after his release from prison in 1990.
On Sunday, many chain stores closed their doors to shoppers, to also allow their employees to watch the funeral proceedings on television. The service was led by Rev Vuyani Nyobole, of the Methodist Church, to which Madiba belonged. His widow Ms Graça Machel and ex-wife Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela flanked president Mr Jacob Zuma at the service, which was also attended by celebrities such as Orpah Winfrey and Richard Branson.
Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) acted as coffin bearers, and after the service, they formed a guard of honour while the funeral procession passed before firing a salute.
Mourning centres were established all over the country and province too. Condolence books were available at all these centres, as well as additional venues.
According to Ehlanzeni District Municipality, the coordinators for the area, all these books will be recalled to their central point today (Tuesday) and the final number of messages will only be available then.
