REPORT: Desmond Tutu will NOT be going to Nelson Mandela’s funeral

Desmond Tutu will not be attending Nelson  Mandela’s funeral because he did not receive credentials to do so, his spokesman  says.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a long-time  friend of Mr Mandela and occasional critic of the current government, spoke  earlier in the week at a memorial service held in Soweto.

The South African liberation hero is to be  buried tomorrow in his home village of Qunu, with all the pomp and ceremony that  the country can muster.

Desmond Tutu pays tribute to Nelson Mandela at the memorial service in Johannesburg on Tuesday: The archbishop has announced that he's not been granted the credentials to attend Mr Mandela's funeral tomorrowDesmond Tutu pays tribute to Nelson Mandela at  the  memorial service in Johannesburg on Tuesday: The archbishop has  announced that  he’s not been granted the credentials to attend Mr  Mandela’s funeral  tomorrow

 

But for now it seems that may not  include Mr  Tutu, whose profile looms almost as large as the late Mr  Mandela in the  pantheon of African statesmen.

‘The archbishop is not an accredited  clergyperson for the event and thus  will not be attending,’ said Rev Mpho Tutu,  the archbishop’s daughter,  in a statement.

She is chief executive of the Desmond and  Leah Tutu Foundation.

More tributes were this morning paid to Mr  Mandela during a ceremony at  Waterkloof air base, on the southern outskirts of  Pretoria, in a  farewell from the African National Congress (ANC).

The military handed over the anti-apartheid  icon’s flag-draped coffin to  the ANC at a solemn ceremony, including a  multi-faith service and a  musical tribute, that was broadcast live on South  African television.

Current South African president Jacob Zuma  praised Mr Mandela in a detailed  recounting of the liberation struggle. He said  Mr Mandela had the rare  ability to put theory into practice.

‘He did something that is not easy to do,’  said Mr Zuma.

'He did something not easy to do': South African President Jacob Zuma, centre, wipes his eyes while sitting beside Winnie Mandela, right, and Graca Machel, left, during a ceremony at Waterkloof air force base‘He did something not easy to do’: South  African  President Jacob Zuma, centre, wipes his eyes while sitting  beside Winnie  Mandela, right, and Graca Machel, left, during a ceremony  at Waterkloof air  force base

 

Icon: Mr Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for opposing racist apartheid before emerging in 1990 to forge a new multi-racial democratic consensus in South Africa by promoting forgiveness and reconciliationIcon: Mr Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for opposing racist apartheid before emerging in 1990 to forge a new  multi-racial  democratic consensus in South Africa by promoting  forgiveness and  reconciliation

ANC supporters throng the hall during the send-off ceremony at Waterkloof: The solemn ceremony, including a multi-faith service and a musical tribute, was broadcast live on South African televisionANC supporters throng the hall during the  send-off  ceremony at Waterkloof: The solemn ceremony, including a  multi-faith service  and a musical tribute, was broadcast live on South  African television

 

He also described Mr Mandela coming to  Johannesburg from the countryside  as a young man and bringing discipline and  vision to the long and  difficult anti-apartheid movement.

Mr Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for  opposing racist apartheid  before emerging in 1990 to forge a new democratic  South Africa by  promoting forgiveness and reconciliation.

He became president in 1994 after South  Africa’s first all-race democratic elections.

Mr Zuma led the group in song after his  speech. Mr Mandela’s widow, Graca  Machel, wearing black, wept and wiped tears  from under her glasses. Mr  Mandela’s former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela,  looking stricken, was  there as well.

Mr Mandela’s favourite poem, Invictus, was  printed on the back of the programme.

Pomp and ceremony: Senior officers from South Africa's military take My Mandela's remains to a plane to be flown back to his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape where he will be buried tomorrowPomp and ceremony: Senior officers from South Africa’s  military take My Mandela’s remains to a plane to be flown back to his home  village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape where he will be buried tomorrow

 

Goodbye to a leader: The military man carry Mr Mandela's casket into the aircraft which was to fly him homeGoodbye to a leader: The military man carry Mr Mandela’s  casket into the aircraft which was to fly him home

 

Honour guard: The South African National Defence Force aircraft taking the casket is escorted by two fighter jets as it flies the former president on his final journey homeHonour guard: The South African National Defence Force  aircraft taking the casket is escorted by two fighter jets as it flies the  former president on his final journey home

 

After the ceremony, the former president’s  remains were taken on board a  military plane and flown to Mthatha in the  Eastern Cape, where it was to be greeted by a full military ceremony.

Rituals will also be performed before a  motorcade takes the casket from Mthatha to the village of Qunu where Mr Mandela  will be buried on tomorrow.

At the airport in Mthatha there was a buzz of  activity today, with  military vehicles driving around as anticipation built  over the arrival  of South Africa’s most famous figure.

The public has been invited to view the  cortege as it makes its way and  residents and people who had travelled for  hours thronged a road leading to Qunu, singing and dancing as Mandela T-shirts  were handed out.

‘We got up this morning at 2am and drove from  Port Elizabeth – it’s about  seven hours – and we got here now. We’re waiting to  show our last  respects to Madiba,’ said Ebrahim Jeftha, using Mandela’s clan  name.

Welcome home: Mourners hold a South African national flag bearing the face of Nelson Mandela as they await the arrival of his casket in his home village of QunuWelcome home: Mourners hold a South African national  flag bearing the face of Nelson Mandela as they await the arrival of his casket  in his home village of Qunu

 

Women in traditional attire wait along the road as they await the arrival of Mr Mandela's remains: The public has been invited to view the cortege and residents and people who had travelled for hours thronged the road Women in traditional attire wait along the road as they  await the arrival of Mr Mandela’s remains: The public has been invited to view  the cortege and residents and people who had travelled for hours thronged the  road

 

Soldiers in full gear were stationed on foot  on either side of the road from the airport in Mthatha. Some civilians were also  already lining the route,  shielding themselves from the sun with  umbrellas.

Mr Mandela had longed to spend his final  months in his beloved rural  village but instead he had spent them in a hospital  in Pretoria and then in his home in Johannesburg where he had remained in a  critical  condition, suffering from lung problems and other ailments, until his  death.

The body will be taken to the Mandela family  farm, where more rituals will be performed.

A night vigil by the ANC is planned at Walter  Sisulu University in  Mthatha tonight, with party leaders and government  officials honouring  Mr Mandela on the eve of his burial.

Poignant journey: People ride a boat on their way to a special tribute to Mr Mandela staged last night at his old cell on Robben Island, where he was imprisoned for 27 years for opposing the racist apartheid regime Poignant journey: People ride a boat on their  way to a  special tribute to Mr Mandela staged last night at his old cell on Robben  Island, where he was imprisoned for 27 years for opposing the racist apartheid  regime

 

A bunch of flowers is left in Mr Mandela's cell in the Robben Island prisonMourners hold candles at a vigil for Mr Mandela, in front of a South African flag emblazoned with his image

Long road to freedom: A bunch of flowers is placed on a  table in the cell where Mr Mandela was kept for nearly three decades, left.  Right, mourners hold candles during a vigil in memory of the South African  liberation hero

 

The late president died last week aged 95.  His body lay in state for three  days this week, drawing huge crowds of South  Africans who mourned his  death and celebrated his successful struggle against  apartheid.

Many were disappointed when they could not  view his remains because long  lines and traffic problems meant that thousands  had to be turned away  without paying their final respects.

There will be further disappointment that Mr  Tutu, a well-respected figure in South Africa and internationally, will not have  the opportunity to pay  his final respects.

A spokesman for Mr Tutu refused to elaborate  and said the retired archbishop himself would not be commenting.

However, a spokesman for the South African  presidency later said Mr Tutu is  definitely on the guest list, adding that he  hopes a solution will be  found that allows him to attend.

‘Certainly he is invited,’ Mac Maharaj said.  ‘He’s an important person.’

Read more: DailyMail

 

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