The body of Nelson Mandela has been laid to rest in his ancestral village, Qunu in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, ending 10 days of mourning in South Africa.
The Sunday burial of South Africa’s first black president was attended by family members, African leaders, celebrities and businessmen from Europe and the United States.
Mandela, who was described as the last great liberator of the 20th century by US President, Barack Obama, died at the age of 95.
Military helicopters flew over as pallbearers placed Mandela’s casket over the grave after the funeral ceremony.
South African television showed Mandela’s casket at the family grave site, but stopped broadcasting the event before the casket was lowered at the request of the Mandela family.
The state funeral began at 7:55am local and was attended by 4,500 guests.
President Jacob Zuma said: “Today marks the end of an extraordinary journey that began 95 years ago. We wish to express two single words ‘Thank You’. Thank you for being everything we needed in a leader during a difficult period in our lives.”
The Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete, said that the former South- African president, Nelson Mandela, was a hero and father to Tanzanians as he was to South Africans.
“Mandela helped build a very strong South Africa-Tanzania relations.
“As we mourn the death of this great man, let us continue to work closely together to advance Mandela’s ideals, he said.
Prominent mourners included Britain’s Prince Charles and US civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson.
US TV talk show host, Oprah Winfrey and British businessman Richard Branson also attended the funeral.
Mandela, also known as Madiba, has been accused of terrorism during the period he fought for the liberation of both black and white South Africans. He was in prison for 27 years but did not show resilience in his fight for freedom.
One of his famous quotes reads: “I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”.
