Nelson Mandela's remains were returned to his beloved rural childhood village on the eve of a traditional burial Sunday, the final leg of his exceptional 95-year journey.
As South Africa prepared to say goodbye to the prisoner-turned-president who led it out of apartheid, a spokesman for Mandela's fellow Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu said he would attend the burial after all, following an outcry when Tutu earlier said he had not been invited.
Tutu, who has at times been openly critical of the South African government and the Mandela family, said Saturday morning he did not want to "gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral".
But Tutu's spokesman said late Saturday that the retired Anglican archbishop would in fact be travelling to the remote eastern village of Qunu early the next day to attend his longtime friend's burial, in a brief statement that did not explain the change of course.
Mandela will be buried near his homestead in Qunu, ending 10 days of national mourning and global tributes for the icon who transformed his country and inspired the world with his committment to reconciliation.
The funeral will begin at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) with a two-hour ceremony for 5,000 people, with foreign dignitaries expected to include Britain's Prince Charles.
A funeral cortege with Mandela's flag-draped casket entered the gates of the homestead Saturday accompanied by a phalanx of military vehicles.
Earlier, a C-130 Hercules transport plane 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 honour.
A sombre 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, who was born in the same month of 1994 that saw South Africa's first all-race vote and Mandela's election as the country's first black president.
Military personnel lined the route, along with small groups of people singing anti-apartheid songs and songs in praise of the revered statesman.
AFP
Sun Dec 15 2013
Nelson Mandela hometown - AFP pic
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