Andrew Austin: Tight security for Mandela's farewell

Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin is in South Africa covering Mandela's farewell.

Cannons boomed across the valley as Nelson Mandela was taken to his final resting place in the small Transkei village of Qunu.

In something akin to a military operation, the South African Government did not leave anything to chance with thousands of soldiers, police, medical personnel and any other service imaginable being deployed to Qunu, about 30km from Mthatha on the road to Durban.

In a display of impressive military might, members of the army, air force and navy, all in full dress uniform, marched up the main N2 road which cuts through the village.

Armoured military vehicles patrolled the streets while an air force helicopter flew above. About 30 buses lined the road, ready to transport military personnel out of the area.

Soldiers, police and emergency medical units were deployed from all around the country, in what will probably be the biggest state funeral South Africa will ever have.

Dignitaries were taken to a large white marquee for the service and the burial followed in an area further up the hill.

A makeshift grandstand had been set up for family and a few invited guests. The burial plot itself was underneath a raised marquee. Other dignitaries remained in the large marquee. Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, was in attendance.

The mood over the village was sombre in keeping with the morning of a funeral. Mourners wearing black had earlier made their way into the village. Ushers for the service, dressed in white shirts and black trousers had walked in single file the half a kilometre to the marquee.

Security cordons blocked all the entrance points to the village and were strictly controlled by police and traffic officers. Most media were kept at bay on a hill overlooking the village. Journalists form all around the world, from China to Brazil, had slept where they could or arrived early to get prime positions.

Early morning mist cleared into a hot African day.

Vendors set up stalls and Nelson Mandela T-shirts and other memorabilia were being sold.

Preparations for the funeral of the former South African President carried on into the night before the burial.

A police explosives expert, who did not want to be named, said the village had been swept for explosives.

"Yes, we took the dogs in and swept the place.

"We are trained so we know what we are looking for," he said.