MADIBA GIVEN A TRULY DIGNIFIED AND BLESSED FAREWELL

REQUISCAT IN PACE - REST IN PEACE MADIBA

(Journalists busy at work covering the Madiba funeral)

(The Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu) One of the world's greatest leaders - Nelson Mandela - has been laid to rest in his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape part of South Africa. The freedom icon died at the age of 95 at his Johannersburg home of Houghton on Thursday, Dec 5. After a mourning period of 10 days - which included an official memorial service in Johannesburg and a three-day viewing of his body at the Government Union Building in Pretoria - Mandela was finally given a traditional Xhosa burial on Sunday, the 15th of December. Subry Govender reports from Mandela's home village of Qunu....... .

An atmosphere of calmness and solemnity descended on the village of Qunu where the final funeral service of South Africa's first democratic president and freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, was held early on Sunday. When I arrived here from the town of Umtata, about 30 km away, I found thousands of neat little cottages alongside some elegant brick houses that enveloped the Qunu area. The locals, dressed in the green, gold and black colours of South Africa and wearing Nelson Mandela t-shirts, were busy trekking along the roads to several viewing points. In Mandela's Eastern Cape province alone - 18 viewing centres were set up for the local people. The VIP and motor cades transported the dignitaries from Umtata to the service and were in constant flow. Security was very tight. Journalists were directed to the Nelson Mandela Museum complex where they were catered for at a huge media centre. All the leading television networks - including ARD, CNN, BBC, Skynews and Al Jazeera - and major radio and print organisations were working from the centre. More than 2 000 television, radio and print journalists were registered by the South African Government to cover the burial of Mandela. Some local people were also walking towards the huge marquee where the ceremony was held before the burial of Mandela took place a short distance away from the main Mandela homestead.

( Ms Neo Phiri with friends near the funeral ceremony site) "We are very very, sad today because Madiba has done a lot for us in this village and the country as a whole," said 51-year-old school teacher, Tahle Mabiyaka. He was one of the hundreds who were walking to a viewing site near the Mandela homestead. "He built us schools, roads, electricity and there is a hospital, Nelson Mandela Hospital, in town. Everyting is coming right now because of our making his way to the main service."

(Koko Pasiyia(15) and his father near Qunu) A 15-year-old schoolboy, Koko Pasiyia, said he was a great admirer of Mandela. He said he and other young people loved Mandela because he was the country's first black president. "Nelson Mandela is our first black president and he fought for our democracy in South Africa," he said. "As youngsters we are so sad because we have lost a father, grand-father that we loved. He fought for our freedom , united people."

(Student Ms Yonele Samsika (22)) One of the young people who helped with the catering at the official funeral service was Yonele Samsika, a 22-year-old university student. She's studying accounting and wants to become successful as Mandela had asked them to do. "You he was more than a parent to the children in this area. He did a lot of things for the people in this rural areas like Qunu. He built schools hospitals for us and during Christmas when we were still young we would go to his place and he would give us presents and he would shake our hands."

(Cyril Ramaphosa) The official ceremony was a dignified affair, officiated by two high-ranking officials of the ruling ANC - Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the Deputy President, and Ms Baleka Mbeta, the national chairperson. They introduced some of the dignitaries who were among the 5 000 family members, Government ministers, and international political leaders and guests. The dignitaries prominent US Civil Rights activist, Reverend Jessie Jackson, Malawi President, Joyce Banda, who represented the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Ethiopean Prime Minister, Haile Mariam Desalgen, who represented the African Union and Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete. One of the veterans who paid a glowing tribute to Mandela was a former political comrades, Mr Ahmed Kathrada, 86, who spent 26 years on Robben Island as a fellow political prisoner. He became emotional when he described the frail conditiond Mandela was when he last him a few months ago. But, he said, Mandela's legacy of bringing all people together must live on. "What do we say to you Madala in these days - the last final moments together before you exit the public stage. Madala your abundant reserves of love, simplicity, honesty, service, humility, care, courage, foresight, patience, tolerance, equality, justice, continually served as a source of enormous strength to many millions of people in South Africa and around the world."

(JACOB ZUMA) President Jacob Zuma, who who represented the Government at the ceremony, also thanked Mandela for leading the way in promoting peace, democracy and justice in South Africa. He said South Africans were now committed to continuing the Mandela legacy. "Whilst the long walk to freedom has ended, we have to continue building the type of society you worked tirelessly to construct," he said. "We have to take the legacy forward. In doing so we will continue drawing lessons from a very rich and extra-ordinary life. We will always remember you as a man of integrity who embodied the values and principles that your organisation the ANC promotes." The Ethiopean Prime Minister, Haile Mariam Desalgen, who represented the African Union, was one of the African Union leaders who praised Mandela's commitment to justice, freedom, and peace. He said Mandela had infused a sense of determination in the continent as a whole. "In the face of atrocities," he said, "Mandela told us that if we remain commmitted to the ideals of justice, liberation, and above all the sanctity of human dignity we can ultimately prevail over the evil no matter how the roads are stepped against us."

(Nandi Mandela) One of Mandela's great-grand-daughters, Nandi Mandela, said that, in addition to being a man who fought for freedom and unity, Mandela was also a family person who cared for everyone. She said in the in village of Qunu here she remembered that her great-grand-father was very passionate about promoting the well-being of children. She said: "He shared all what we had as best as possible with all those that he loved. For many years in Qunu during his presidency and after he stepped down he made that the children of Qunu had a beautiful Christmas. They came in thousands to his home and he made sure that each one of the children had a gift and a meal."

Ms Neo Phiri and Family members One of the greatest tributes to Mandela was paid by a 31-year-old brand manager, Ms Neo Phiri, who had travelled more than 800 km outside Johannesburg to pay her last respects and bid her farewell because of the high respect she had for Mandela. She was accompanied by her sister and brother-in-law. She told me in an interview that she would now try to promote Mandela's values in her community and South Africa. "For me as a young person," she said, "as I look to the future of South Africa to reminded of the sacrifices of this great icon makes me to really re-focus my life and really think what impact do I want to make to South Africa and my community". After the official ceremony at Mandela's homestead, his body in a casket was driven in great dignity and humility to the gravesite. Soldiers and the airforce gave Mandela the last salute. It was an emotional send off and brought tears to the thousands, even some journalists at the media centre nearby.

(A well-wisher from Johannesburg) His legacy - it seems - will live on forever. The Nelson Mandela Museum here in Qunu is one of the projects that will ensure that the life of Mandela is a constant reminder to the world. - ends