Nelson Mandela was surrounded by his family as he sat yards from the flower-adorned casket of his son, Makgatho, who was buried in South Africa on Saturday.

The former South African president was supported by his wife, Graca Machel, while he stooped to throw a solitary yellow rose into his son's grave.

Nelson Mandela's former wife, Winnie, was among the thousands of mourners at the service in his home village of Qunu, in the eastern Cape.

Clergy from mixed denominations, and royalty from the Thembu household, said prayers and paid their respects.

Makgatho Mandela, a lawyer and Nelson Mandela's son from his first marriage, died from Aids on 6 January 2005.