Mandela’s state burial today

QUNU, South Africa: Nelson Mandela’s remains were returned to his beloved rural childhood village ahead of a traditional burial on Sunday, the final leg of his exceptional 95-year journey.
A funeral cortege with his flag-draped casket entered on Saturday the gates of Mandela’s homestead in the remote village of Qunu, accompanied by a phalanx of military vehicles.
Mandela will be buried near the homestead, ending 10 days of national mourning and global tributes for the prisoner-turned-president who transformed his country and inspired the world. “We are going to miss him so much,” said Lusanda Shasha, 17, as the cortege drove out of view.
Sunday’s funeral will begin at 8:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) with a two-hour ceremony for 5,000 people, including foreign dignitaries such as Britain’s Prince Charles.
But Mandela’s friend and fellow Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu is unlikely to be there, the archbishop’s office said Saturday. Tutu has been openly critical of the government and members of Mandela’s family.
“Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome, there is no way on earth that I would have missed it,” Tutu said in a statement.
Earlier a C-130 Hercules escorted by two fighter jets carried Mandela’s casket from the capital Pretoria to his native Eastern Cape.
The homecoming of Mandela’s body was greeted by thousands of waiting mourners and a full military guard of honor.
A somber mood soon changed to cheers as the crowd — many dressed in free T-shirts bearing Mandela’s face — welcomed the return of their hero with joy and pride.
“I’m just telling him welcome, welcome home!” said Mxhasi Mpikwa, in upper Qunu, born in the same month of 1994 that saw South Africa’s first all-race vote and Mandela’s election as the first black president.
Military personnel lined the route, along with small groups of people singing anti-apartheid songs and songs in praise of the iconic statesman. “He is finally coming home to rest, I can’t even begin to describe the feeling I have inside,” said 31-year-old Bongani Zibi.
“Part of me is sad but I’m also happy that he has found peace.”
Sunday’s interment will see Mandela laid to rest in the open spaces of the village that he so longed for during his years in apartheid prison.
Since Mandela died on Dec. 5 at his home in Johannesburg, South Africans have turned out in the pouring rain and blistering sun to pay their respects.
Tens of thousands had packed a soaked stadium in Soweto for a memorial service Tuesday and up to 100,000 people filed past Mandela’s open-casket for the three days it was displayed at the Union Buildings in Pretoria — the same venue of his presidential inauguration two decades ago.