After participating in the final farewell given by the ANC in Waterkloof, we gathered the necessary documentation and headed for the O.R. Tambo Airport.

The Johannesburg Airport carries the name of another great fighter against Apartheid. In the same way as all the citizens love Mandela, Tambo is in the hearts of all the ANC. He led the ANC while Mandela was in prison. The "young lions" led by him confronted Apartheid. As the commemoration of Foreign Relations says "O.R. Tambo, patriotism, integrity, humility and passion."

At six in the afternoon we arrived in East London, in the province of Eastern Cape. From there we went to the newspaper the Daily Dispatch and its director. They gave us information about the death of Steve Biko.

After resting a few hours, we took the protocol buses at one in the morning. We had a long way to go to Qunu. On the bus people from different countries are travelling. We try to sleep a little if it is possible.

We've arrived at five in the morning, at dawn. We passed by the right of the ranch that Mandela had here and we get off the bus at the side of a large tent set up to celebrate the religious ceremony. Mandela has spent many days here in the past years, in the land of his childhood. Large fields, big ranches and abundant livestock. Beautiful. By eight in the morning the tent is full. While the body of Mandela arrives, the multitude has begun to sing and dance. We've saluted vice-president Kgalema Motlante and Kenneth Kaunda, president for years of Zambia. Kaunda has the age of Mandela and has supported all of the anti-colonial struggles of Africa.

When the body arrives the ceremony begins, led by Cyril Ramaphosa. In the name of the family of Mandela, a member of his tribe, Chief N. Matanzima speaks. Later came the most emotional part of the ceremony when Mandela's comrade in the struggle and in prison, Ahmed Karhad speaks. With his voice breaking, Karhad has said that he has lost his older brother. A few years ago he lost Walter Sisulu, who was like a father to him. Now he has lost a brother.

The foreign leaders have also spoken, the representative of the African Union and the Southern Africa Development Community. The president of Tanzania remembered the times of exile and Kenneth Kaunda has recalled the constant struggle against the Boers'. Finally, before the body was buried, Jacob Zuma spoke. He expressed commitment to continue fighting for the society that Mandela fought for. He stated that in spite of that Mandela's voyage ends today, ours continues. After the final prayers, we went to bury the body. With the help of cannon fire and planes crossing the sky, Madiba was buried in a short ceremony led by representatives of the Church and representatives of his tribe.

Here the long walk to freedom has ended, for Mandela at least.

At these moments we want to keep in mind the family of Mandela and the ANC. The week has been long and they deserve a rest.

For SORTU it has been an honour to have participated in the acts celebrated throughout the week; in the Soweto Stadium, in the farewell at the family house of Madiba, in the visit to the Union Buildings, in the final farewell offered by the ANC at Waterkloof, and in the religious ceremony and burial celebrated today in Qunu.

We take the bus and head back, through a long walk to freedom. Next stop, the Basque Country.