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After ten days of mourning, “South Africa’s greatest son”, as the current President Jacob Zuma described Mandela, will be laid to rest.
A final private service at his graveside will only be attended by the Mandela family.
Sunday’s funeral was held with military ceremonial honours and traditional Xhosa customs.
Over 4500 guests are attending Mandela’s funeral including longtime ally and friend Desmond Tutu and several heads of state and government across the world.
One of the key speakers on Sunday, Chief Matanzima Ngangomhlaba, who represented the family, speaking in Afrikaans said “the nation should take lessons from Mandela for the country to prosper”.
The UK’s Prince Charles and South African billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe and celebrity Oprah Winfrey are also attending the funeral.
Mandela died on December 5 at the age of 95 after a long illness. He led the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and was imprisoned for 27 years by the white minority government.
TBP