Sisulu heads for his resting place
2003-05-17 12:22
Johannesburg - The funeral cortege of the late ANC struggle hero Walter Sisulu left the Orlando Stadium in Soweto shortly after noon, bound for the Croesus Cemetery in Newclare where he will be buried.
Sisulu's South African flag draped coffin was carried by senior members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in front of the stage and loaded onto a gun carriage for transport to the cemetery.
The flag will be presented to the Sisulu family at the cemetery.
The carriage was led out of the stadium by a slow marching SANDF contingent and military band.
The service at the packed 30 000 seat stadium was attended by a host of VIPs and dignitaries, including President Thabo Mbeki, Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk.
Also present were, among others, the heads of state of Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Malawi, as well as several former heads of state, including Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and Jerry Rawlings of Ghana.
Gauteng Premier Mbazima Shilowa and Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile shared the duties of master of ceremonies, while Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo welcomed the various dignitaries.
The speakers included Mbeki, Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who led the sermon.
The service was preceded by a private prayer service at the nearby Sisulu family home.
Dozens of local and foreign media were also on hand to record the event.
Sisulu died at his home in Linden, Johannesburg on May 5. He was one of many ANC leaders who fought for the end of apartheid, and had spent years in prison with Mandela during the struggle.
He would have turned 91 on Sunday - the day after his burial.
- SAPA