Nelson Mandela's body finally laid to rest

There were emotional scenes as the funeral took place

 

Nelson Mandela's body has been laid to rest in a family plot, after political and religious leaders paid tribute to South Africa's first black president at a state funeral service.

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Guests take selfies in Qunu

Dozens of funeral guests in Qunu began taking "selfies" during the burial of former president Nelson Mandela on Sunday.

 

After only 450 selected guests were allowed to the cemetery, the rest watched proceedings on large screens set up at a domed arena nearby.

 

The Mandela family had asked that the final procedures of the burial not be filmed. As the screens in the dome stopped showing footage, some guests got up to leave. Others stayed when an announcement was made that refreshments would be served. Box juices and water were handed out.

 

People streamed onto the stage and took "selfies", photographs of themselves with their cellphones.

 

Controversy emerged after British Prime Minister David Cameron, US President Barack Obama and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt took a "selfie" during Mandela's memorial service in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The former president's burial marks the end of a 10-day mourning period for the country.

Mandela died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg at the age of 95, on December 5.

 

Guests watch Mandela burial in silence

Many watching the burial of former president Nelson Mandela from an arena in Qunu filmed the proceedings off the large screens there on Sunday.

 

Only 450 selected guests were able to proceed from the arena to the cemetery because of space constraints and to allow the family some privacy.

 

The rest were asked to remain behind at the domed arena and watch live footage of the burial on three screens. They took out tablet computers and phones to take photos and videos of the proceedings.

 

The former president's burial marks the end of a 10-day mourning period for the country. Mandela died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, last Thursday, aged 95.

He is being laid to rest in the family burial plot in the rural area where he spent much of his childhood, following a state funeral with full military honours.

 

Mandela buried

Former president Nelson Mandela was buried in Qunu, Eastern Cape, around 12.40pm on Sunday.

 

Mandela's coffin laid over grave

The coffin of former president Nelson Mandela was laid over his grave in Qunu, Eastern Cape, on Sunday.

 

The South African flag that was draped over the coffin was folded by several soldiers.

A prayer was made at the graveside.

 

A slow-marching army procession escorted the coffin before the gun carriage came to a halt and the straps securing coffin were removed.

 

Soldiers tilted the coffin slightly and gently eased it off of the gun carriage.

 

It was then take up by eight military pall bearers, who pushed the coffin on a trolley towards the grave site, as muffled drums played in the background.

 

The coffin laid at the burial site, flanked by banks of white flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

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