News / National
Tsvangirai to attend Mandela burial
12 Dec 2013 at 06:06hrs | Views
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is scheduled to attend the burial of late former South African president Nelson Mandela at his Qunu Village in Eastern Cape, a party official said yesterday.
Tsvangirai's spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka told said that travelling arrangements and other logistics were being worked out for the former Premier to the funeral on Sunday.
He, however, would not divulge whether Tsvangirai had been invited, save to say the South African government was aware that he would be attending.
"In African culture you do not need an invitation to attend a funeral. As for Mandela, his works alone invited the world. However, the South African government is aware that Tsvangirai will attend the icon's burial," said Tamborinyoka.
Mandela's funeral in Qunu is expected to be attended by around 4,000 mourners.
But only some 400 of those will be allowed to attend Mandela's actual burial.
Minister Collins Chabane says foreign heads of state and dignitaries may, but are advised not to, attend Nelson Mandela's funeral in Qunu.
Foreign heads of state and dignitaries will not be stopped from attending former president Nelson Mandela's funeral in Qunu, but are advised not to, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said on Monday.
"Nobody will be prevented from attending ... , however, given the size and the scale of the operation and the size of the delegation and the limited infrastructure in the area, we advise [against it]," he told reporters in Johannesburg.
The venue in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, where Mandela will be buried on Sunday could take only 5 000 people. Chabane said that because the site was in a rural area, the facilities in the area would not be able to accommodate the numbers.
He said foreign guests should "take that advice very seriously".
Tsvangirai's spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka told said that travelling arrangements and other logistics were being worked out for the former Premier to the funeral on Sunday.
He, however, would not divulge whether Tsvangirai had been invited, save to say the South African government was aware that he would be attending.
"In African culture you do not need an invitation to attend a funeral. As for Mandela, his works alone invited the world. However, the South African government is aware that Tsvangirai will attend the icon's burial," said Tamborinyoka.
Mandela's funeral in Qunu is expected to be attended by around 4,000 mourners.
Minister Collins Chabane says foreign heads of state and dignitaries may, but are advised not to, attend Nelson Mandela's funeral in Qunu.
Foreign heads of state and dignitaries will not be stopped from attending former president Nelson Mandela's funeral in Qunu, but are advised not to, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said on Monday.
"Nobody will be prevented from attending ... , however, given the size and the scale of the operation and the size of the delegation and the limited infrastructure in the area, we advise [against it]," he told reporters in Johannesburg.
The venue in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, where Mandela will be buried on Sunday could take only 5 000 people. Chabane said that because the site was in a rural area, the facilities in the area would not be able to accommodate the numbers.
He said foreign guests should "take that advice very seriously".
Source - newsday
