Madiba, South Africa's first black president has been buried at his ancestral home.

He was laid to rest in Qunu, in the east of the country, following a state funeral service attended by around 4,500 people. Mr Mandela's burial was a private ceremony, with only a few hundred family, friends and dignitaries present at the graveside. The vehicle carrying Mr Mandela's casket, covered with a national flag, arrived at the family compound under cloudy skies at 4 pm local time. It was accompanied by an enormous convoy of police, military and other vehicles, and a military helicopter hovered overhead. According to Xhosa tribal tradition, Mr Mandela was honoured as a leader by placing a skin on the coffin, replacing the flag. Mr Mandela's journey started yesterday with pomp and ceremony at an air base in the capital before being flown aboard a military plane to Qunu village. At the Mthatha airport the former president's casket was welcomed by a military guard and placed in a convoy for the 20 mile (32km) voyage toward Qunu. Residents and people who had travelled for hours thronged a road leading to Qunu, singing and dancing as Mandela T-shirts were handed out. Tata may your soul rest in peace

Nelson Mandela's body in the capital

South Africans have been warned not to attempt to go to see Nelson Mandela's body in the capital, Pretoria, unless they are already in the queue. The anti-apartheid leader's body is lying in state at the Union Buildings, where he was sworn in as South Africa's first black president in 1994. Tens of thousands have been flocking to the venue to pay their respects. Mr Mandela will be buried at his ancestral home in Qunu on Sunday. He died on 5 December aged 95. His widow Graca Machel and President Jacob Zuma were among those to pay their respects on Wednesday. World leaders and celebrities also came to say goodbye to Mr Mandela, who died last Thursday at the age of 95.

Tata Madiba Why You

One must go back to Dallas, Texas, in 1963 to find a comparable occasion of collective bereavement as that which has met the death of Nelson Mandela, at the age of 95. Even the assassination of President John F Kennedy registered less resonantly in the days before the global village – and, in any case, the trajectory of the American politician's life represented promise shattered rather than hope fulfilled. Mandela has surely been venerated by more millions in his lifetime than any political figure in history. In working to free his country from racial division, he led an essentially peaceful revolution, culminating in his release from prison in 1990 and the post-apartheid election of 1994, which saw him elected as the first president of a democratic South Africa. The world responded to the qualities it perceived in the man, as well as to the scale of his achievement. Was he born to it, this child of royal descent? His uncompromising defiance of a cruelly repressive government – as commander of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the Spear of the Nation – spoke loud. Was he a great general, or a great politician, this herdsboy who became a president and more? Was he a great orator? He did, after all, in his statement from the dock in the Rivonia trial make one of the most memorable speeches in the annals of political struggle. Or was his statesmanship what mattered, bringing peace to a nation that seemed destined for bloody racial war? Curiously, Mandela's greatness seems to have lain in all these things, and yet in none of them. Nelson Mandela was very fond of telling a story of how, in the early 1980s, while at the windswept Robben Island prison where he had been banished for opposing the apartheid regime, he was taken to the mainland in Cape Town for a medical check-up. His prison warders generously agreed to his request that he be allowed to stroll on the beach for a few minutes. Walking on the beach, Mandela, the world's most famous political prisoner, was anonymous. Having been in jail since the early 1960s, and his pictures banned from being circulated in public or published in the media, very few people knew his appearance.Tata Madiba May your soul rest in peace

Brickz Behind The Bars

The 32-year-old will spend eight more days in the Roodepoort police holding cells after he was remanded in custody. “There is convincing evidence and likelihood that the applicant will intimidate witnesses,” said magistrate Piet Kotze. He also said Brickz (real name Real name Sipho Charles Ndlovu) had lied about his previous conviction

Sipho Charles Ndlovu (aka Brickz), famous for his song Sweety My Baby, was arrested in Joburg on Friday for allegedly raping the girl in Honeydew on March 26. the state has oppose d the bail appeal for Brickz who is facing charges of rape. He allegedly raped a teenage girl in March this year. He was arrested on November 1 and has been in custody since his arrest. “Rape is a Schedule 6 offence which is a very serious case,” In his affidavit Brickz stated that he had no previous conviction but, the state submitted that he was convicted for possession of cocaine in 2007. He was sentenced to four months with an option of a R1000 fine. Half of the sentence was suspended. “On top of a certified copy from the Randburg Magistrate’s Court it is written no admission fine… You were convicted,” Kotze said.

Now is the time to shine

By Nqobile Mafu The Youth Conference of 2013 was held at The Livingstone Apostolic Faith Ministries, Leeds from the 15th -17th November. Many months of preparation came together and we were greeted warmly at the church. As reporting on behalf of the youth, the conference provided abundant space for creative worship and debate. This year was a mixture of group discussions and open debate to allow as many young people as possible to be involved in decision making. A combination of workshops, worship and entertainment made for an exhausting but fantastic weekend. A large number of people were attending for the first time and were very positive about the weekend and the many friends they had made. Some feedback comments included, “Brilliant to meet other young people passionate about the Youth of The Livingstone Church” and “The atmosphere is awesome of !UBBYC Youth”

Retaliation for Kenyan military operations in Somalia

Kenyan authorities prepared for the gruesome task of recovering dozens more victims than initially feared after the president declared an end to the four-day siege of a Nairobi shopping mall by al Qaida-linked terrorists. Officials said the death count could soar by another 60 or more. Uhuru Kenyatta said five militants had been shot dead by troops and 11 suspects were in custody. He also confirmed that intelligence reports had been received suggesting that a British woman and "two or three" US nationals had been involved in the attack. "We cannot confirm the details at present but forensic experts are working to ascertain the nationalities of the terrorists," he said in a televised address. The Kenyan president said 61 civilians and six members of the security forces had died, while 62 of the 175 people injured remained in hospital. Three days of national mourning have been declared, starting on Wednesday. The Somali Islamist al-Shabab movement said it had carried out the attack in retaliation for Kenyan military operations in Somalia. Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has said that those behind the attacks "must be held accountable." Meanwhile, Kenya's foreign minister said "two or three" Americans and a British woman were among the attackers.

Born 2 Speak" The Book Available Now"

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Mandela's family feud has erupted

Nelson Mandela's grandson faces criminal charges after moving the remains of the former president's children from the family plot where the ailing apartheid icon wants to be buried. A family feud has erupted after Mandla Mandela moved the bodies of three of the 94-year-old former president’s children from Qunu to Mvezo, where he plans to open a hotel.

Police said criminal charges of "tampering with a grave" had been pressed against Mandla Mandela over the exhumation of the bodies. Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said: "A case is opened at the police station and we will now investigate that case." Sixteen relatives have taken Mandla Mandela, 39, to court, claiming he did not seek permission to move the remains or inform family members when he did so. Among them are Nelson Mandela's three daughters. His wife, Graca Machel, was also seen on a list of applicants at the court, although her spokeswoman has declined to comment on the case. The court has issued an order calling for the bodies to be returned to Mr Mandela's ancestral village of Qunu, where his parents are also buried, by 2pm UK time on Wednesday. However, Mandla Mandela, who has previously argued that Mr Mandela should be buried at his rural birthplace of Mvezo, on Tuesday asked the court to rescind the order. A final decision is due to be made on Wednesday. Mr Mandela remains critical in hospital in Pretoria, where he has been treated for a recurring lung infection since June 8. Since then, there has been a groundswell of concern in South Africa and around the world for the man who spent 27 years as a prisoner under apartheid and then emerged to negotiate an end to white racist rule before becoming president. The former president chose his grandson, Mandla, to be chief of Mvezo in the Eastern Cape six years ago, rather than accept the title himself.

Shine Mancane Its Yo Time

The awards also seek to inspire Zimbabwean artists to strive for higher forms of creativity and excellence thus affording Zimbabwean art and culture international recognition and fame. The NAMA ceremony presented more than 35 awards to artists from all the arts genres. The arts categories included Visual, Theatre, Film and Television, Dance, Music and Literary. Media, Arts Service and Arts Personality Awards were also be conferred on artists or organisation that contributed to the development and promotion of the arts in and outside Zimbabwe. “NAMA has now achieved international status and it is incumbent upon the artistes to continue to scale greater heights being guided by the three pillars that constitute the hallmark of the arts – creativity, originality and excellence.” For the first time in history The annual National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) was held in the City of Kings, Bulawayo yesterday. There were some complaints from others especially those from Harare because some Bulawayo winners were making acceptance speeches in isiNdebele, yet guest of honour and accomplished musician Oliver Mtukudzi spoke in Shona throughout his speech. The director of Iyasa, Nkululeko Innocent Dube was over the moon as Pepsie familiar known as (Mancane) was awarded an outstanding female dancer. (Mancane) wrote on her Facebook page “Am so grateful to hve won this award NAMA Best Female Dancer 2013.the nomination only was an honour and winning the award is a bonus .I owe this award to everyone who been supporting me and blvng in me .especially ma family. Without you I wouldn’t be who I am today .and Heavenly father I thnk him” Ngiyesabanews Congratulate to all the nominees for their talent and been recognised throughout the country

Pistorius premeditated murder

South African Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius wept in court on Friday as prosecutors said they would pursue a "premeditated murder" charge over the death of his girlfriend. Model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at his home near Pretoria on Thursday. Mr Pistorius held his head in his hands and broke down in tears as the charge was read out in the magistrates' court. An application for bail was postponed till next Tuesday and Mr Pistorius, 26, will remain in police custody, as South Africans closely watched developments in a killing that has stunned the country. Chief Magistrate Desmond Nasir was presiding over the hearing which likely will include Pistorius' request for bail. Police oppose the granting of bail. Pistorius' father, Henke, was in the court as was his brother Carl, sister Aimee and other supporters of the 26-year-old double-amputee athlete. Police said Friday an autopsy on the body of the victim was taking place. Lt. Col. Katlego Mogale said the results of the autopsy would not be published.

Breaking News

Breaking news Osca Pistorius was due to appear at Pretoria Magistrates has been postponed for tomorrow. Katlego Mogale SAPS spokesperson has confirmed that they will oppose the bail application and has been detained; forensic and medical tests to be conducted.

Oscar Pistorius from hero to a slayer

Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius has been charged with murder following the death of his girlfriend this morning. Pistorius will appear in a Pretoria court at 2pm local time (1200GMT) when police said they would oppose a bail application. Pistorius, 26, is alleged to have killed his 30-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who died of gunshot wounds at an address in the city. Police spokeswoman Brigadier Denise Beukes said at a press conference: "A 26-year-old man has been arrested and has been charged with murder. At this stage he is on his way to the district surgeon for a medical examination and he will be appearing at Pretoria magistrates' courts at 2pm this afternoon."