Mandela laid to rest at ancestral home

Pretoria, Dec 15 (IANS) South Africa’s former president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela’s body was Sunday was buried at his ancestral home in Qunu village in Eastern Cape province.

Some 4,500 people – including current and former heads of states, members of royal families and high-profile celebrities – attended Sunday’s state funeral service in a marquee on the Mandela family property.

Ahmed Kathrada, the Indian-origin veteran anti-apartheid activist and aide to Nelson Mandela, moved many mourners to tears when he paid a poignant tribute to the late statesman.

“When Walter (Sisulu) died, I lost a father, when you (Mandela) died I lost a brother, now I don’t know who to turn to,” Kathrada said.

Walter Sisulu was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress (ANC).

South African President Jacob Zuma said the government and the country will take forward the legacy of Nelson Mandela.