The plane carrying Former South African President Nelson Mandela‘s body has arrived at Mthatha Airport in South Africa’s Eastern Cape ahead of his burial tomorrow, Sunday December 15th 2013.
The late anti-apartheid icon’s body departed from the One Military Hospital in Pretoria for nearby Waterkloof Airbase before arrival at the airport as his final journey began to his ancestral home in Qunu.
The former president’s body has been at the Union Buildings, Pretoria where it laid in state for the last three days.
About 100,000 mourners have paid homage to the former president with more than 50,000 people paying their respect on Friday.
The government even asked for the park-and-ride facilities to be set up for the mourners following the large group of people who came to pay their respect.
There will be a service for the revered former president at the Airforce Base before he is flown south to Mthatha, and then on to his house in Qunu for an overnight vigil before the funeral on Sunday.
Mandela’s journey to his homeland comes after President Jacob Zuma and other African National Congress leaders paid their tribute in a multi-faith service and musical tribute.
By May Jesaro\ BBC News
