His Qunu homecoming

09 December 2013 - 03:03 By BONGANI FUZILE and DAVID MACGREGOR
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
PROTECTION: Soldiers on patrol at Nelson Mandela's Qunu homestead in Eastern Cape
PROTECTION: Soldiers on patrol at Nelson Mandela's Qunu homestead in Eastern Cape
Image: ROGAN WARD/REUTERS

Funeral preparations at Nelson Mandela's Qunu home are well under way.

Military personnel have been deployed around the homestead and a crane has been used to erect a huge stage less than 200m from the family grave site.

Three 26-wheeler trucks were seen driving into the late statesman's home carrying marquees.

Workers cut grass and pruned flowers .

Police from the VIP unit have been deployed at the main entrance of the Mandela home.

The Mandela family, The Times was told, were "busy up in Johannesburg".

"We were expecting the chief [Mandla Mandela] to come because there are prayer meetings scheduled for here, but we will see," said an elderly woman.

Another woman who said she was related to the Mandelas said the community was not being allowed inside the property.

"They will be allowed when the family has arrived to officially announce where he will be buried," she said.

A stretch of road next to Madiba's home is being repaired.

"We are clearing rubble along the road and making sure that road markings are clear because heads of state are expected here," said a construction worker.

As workers were getting ready for the funeral, an enterprising Mthatha couple are cashing in by selling hot food and drinks by the roadside .

Local chef Monica Nolitha Kokwa and her husband, Vukile, who run a catering business in Mthatha, said they would set up a gazebo furnished with chairs, crisp white table clothes, stainless-steel cutlery and ceramic cups and plates.

They had realised that local and foreign media and mourners trickling into Qunu and milling around outside the Mandela homestead needed food and beverages "to keep them going".

"We saw people were hungry and we promised we would be back to feed them," Vukile said.

"We are doing this because we want South Africa and the rest of the world to get constant news from Madiba's place ... we don't want the media to pack up and leave to drive to Mthatha every time they're hungry."

When the couple first set up their gazebo, on Saturday, they started out small, serving plates of steaming hot spaghetti bolognaise for R35, wors rolls for R20, and R10 cooldrinks, and tea and coffee.

The couple also plan to serve traditional Xhosa meals in the build-up to Madiba's funeral, which will be attended by 4000 guests from nearby villages - and the world.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now