Qunu prepares for Mandela funeral

Grocott's Mail editor Steven Lang and senior reporter Avuyile Mngxitama-Diko headed off to Qunu, 30km from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, for former South African President Nelson Mandela's funeral on Sunday 15 November.

The pair left Grahamstown on Friday, and they have been tweeting updates @Steven_Lang and @Grocotts on Twitter. Here are some updates from their trip so far

Photos: Steven Lang

A crowd of about 150 residents – mostly wearing ANC regalia, and perhaps 100 journalists lined the N2 entrance to Qunu awaiting the arrival of Nelson Mandela's cortege from Mthatha. The crowd started building up just before one pm but the cortege only arrived at 3.55pm.

Crowds of people gathered to greet Mandela's cortege when it arrived in Qunu.

There were hundreds of vehicles in the convoy that was led by several sets of motorcycle outriders. After the Mercedes Benz Vito hearse, carrying a South Arfican flag draped casket, sped past the ululating crowds the convoy spread back several kilometres while three army helicopters hovered overhead.

The funeral hearse arrived in Qunu around 3.55pm on Saturday.

@Grocotts #Qunu Busload of Children from Mvezo, Mandela's birthplace, was in funeral cortege arriving in #Qunu pic.twitter.com/vAr0qR6rIA
— Steven Lang (@Steven_Lang) December 14, 2013

@GROCOTTS cortege arrived but not hearse. Confusion at entrance to #Qunu
— Steven Lang (@Steven_Lang) December 14, 2013

@GROCOTTS #Qunu crowds excited singing loud many journal istd from all over. I just got hit by canopy blown over.
— Steven Lang (@Steven_Lang) December 14, 2013

@GROCOTTS #Qunu angry people not allowed into #Qunu . Tourists blocked from going on. Mandela has left Pretoria. http://t.co/4CfjejQYG9
— Steven Lang (@Steven_Lang) December 14, 2013

Editor @Steven_Lang and senior reporter Avuyile Diko at #Qunu. Here's the church where Mandela was christened pic.twitter.com/XUSUS5R8pL
— Grocott's Online (@Grocotts) December 14, 2013

@GROCOTTS we are at Empa public viewings area near #Qunu . Watching casket bring loaded into plane
— Steven Lang (@Steven_Lang) December 14, 2013

@GROCOTTS #Qunu six busloads given priority passage to Mandela compound. Guess they are family. Detour still blocked. Angry people
— Steven Lang (@Steven_Lang) December 14, 2013

@GROCOTTS #Qunu locals are angry with people from Joburg. They were allowed to see Mandela
— Steven Lang (@Steven_Lang) December 14, 2013

Click here to see a funeral fact sheet released by the government on Friday 13 December.