Desmond Tutu will NOT be going to Nelson Mandela's funeral: Spokesman for retired archbishop says he's not been granted credentials to attend the ceremony

Desmond Tutu pays tribute to Nelson Mandela at the memorial service in Johannesburg on Tuesday: The archbishop has announced that he's not been granted the credentials to attend Mr Mandela's funeral tomorrow

Desmond Tutu will not be attending Nelson Mandela's funeral because he did not receive credentials to do so, his spokesman says.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a long-time friend of Mr Mandela and occasional critic of the current government, spoke earlier in the week at a memorial service held in Soweto.
The South African liberation hero is to be buried tomorrow in his home village of Qunu, with all the pomp and ceremony that the country can muster.
 

'He did something not easy to do': South African President Jacob Zuma, centre, wipes his eyes while sitting beside Winnie Mandela, right, and Graca Machel, left, during a ceremony at Waterkloof air force base

But for now it seems that may not include Mr Tutu, whose profile looms almost as large as the late Mr Mandela in the pantheon of African statesmen.

'The archbishop is not an accredited clergyperson for the event and thus will not be attending,' said Rev Mpho Tutu, the archbishop's daughter, in a statement.

She is chief executive of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation.

More tributes were this morning paid to Mr Mandela during a ceremony at Waterkloof air base, on the southern outskirts of Pretoria, in a farewell from the African National Congress (ANC).

The military handed over the anti-apartheid icon's flag-draped coffin to the ANC at a solemn ceremony, including a multi-faith service and a musical tribute, that was broadcast live on South African television. 

Current South African president Jacob Zuma praised Mr Mandela in a detailed recounting of the liberation struggle. He said Mr Mandela had the rare ability to put theory into practice.

'He did something that is not easy to do,' said Mr Zuma.

Daily Mail.