Mandela's Body Arrives in Home Village as Tutu 'Snubbed' Retired archbishop says he was not invited to tomorrow's funeral By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff Posted Dec 14, 2013 9:05 AM CST 6 comments Comments The hearse carrying the body of former South African president Nelson Mandela just before it arrives at his home in Qunu, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) View 6 more images (Newser) – Nelson Mandela's body arrived in his home village of Qunu today ahead of a funeral and burial tomorrow, the AP reports. The hearse carrying his casket was escorted by throngs of police, military, and other vehicles after being flown from the South African capital on a military plane. Many locals drove hours to watch as the hearse made its 20-mile drive from the Mthatha airport to Mandela's final resting place. But the day was marked with a bit of controversy, too, as retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu claimed he would not be attending tomorrow's funeral because the current government, which he has often publicly criticized in the past, did not invite him. "Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata (Mandela) to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral," he said in a statement. But a government spokesperson says Tutu is in fact on the guest list. Click for more on the tribal rituals that will play a role in tomorrow's ceremony. The hearse, centre right, carrying the body of former South African president Nelson Mandela drives into his home in Qunu, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) South African mourners wave and cheer as the hearse transporting the body of Former President Nelson Mandela passes through the town of Mthatha on its way to Qunu, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) The hearse carrying the body of former South African president Nelson Mandela just before it arrives at his home in Qunu, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) Military personnel salute after placing the casket of former South African President Nelson Mandela in a hearse of its arrival at the Mthatha airport in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, December... (AP Photo/Siphiwe Sibeko, Pool) The hearse carrying the remains of former South African President Nelson Mandela proceeds to Mandela's hometown and burial site in Qunu, South Africa, Saturday Dec. 14, 2013. The iconic leader will be... (AP Photo/Akmal Rajput) The motorcade transporting the body of Nelson Mandela, in black hearse, passes through crowds of mourners gathered in the town of Umtatha on its way to Qunu, South Africa Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results without voting | 45% Hilarious 5% Intriguing 18% Depressing 5% Brilliant 0% Scary 26% Ridiculous