JOHANNESBURG

Late South African president Nelson Mandela was laid to rest at noon on Sunday in his ancestral home in Qunu village, in the Eastern Cape.

Mandela's coffin, draped in the South African flag, was carried from a dome structure especially erected for his state burial service to the actual burial site.

Only 450-500 accredited guests, including members of the Mandela family, were allowed to accompany his casket to the burial site.

"In accordance with the traditions practiced in this region Mandela will be buried at 12:00 when the sun is at its highest point and the shadow at is shortest," Cyril Ramphosa, Deputy President of the ruling National Congress Party (ANC) and program director for the Mandela's state burial service, said earlier today.

The ceremony was aired live to make it possible for millions of people across South Africa and abroad to follow Mandela's final journey to his resting place.

Minister in presidency Collins Chabane said more than 150 giant screens had been placed in stadiums and open areas countrywide to allow access to the funeral proceedings.

Around 4,500 accredited guests had attended the state funeral service held at the dome structure earlier today.

Among the dignitaries who attended were Prince Charles of England, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Prince Albert II of Monaco, President of Malawi Joyce Banda and iconic TV host Oprah Winfrey.

The state burial service ends a week of commemorations for Mandela, South Africa's first black president who died on December 5 at the age of 95.

A prince from South Africa's Xhosa tribe, Mandela received at least prestigious 250 honors, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, which he won alongside former white South African leader WF de Klerk for their roles in ending the South Africa crisis. 

By Moses Mudzwiti

englishnews@aa.com.tr