ANC delivers Nelson Mandela funeral snub to Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the most prominent figures in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, has been excluded from the funeral of Nelson Mandela today in what has been described as a politically motivated snub.

Critics accused the governing African National Congress (ANC) of looking petty by apparently failing to invite Tutu, one of the most vocal campaigners for Mandela's release from jail during white minority rule.

"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 to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral," Tutu said.

"Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome, there is no way on earth that I would have missed it."

Staff said the retired archbishop cancelled a Friday flight to the Eastern Cape, where the funeral will take place.

The former archbishop has become a fierce critic of the ANC in recent years. In 2011 he compared it unfavourably to the apartheid regime and warned that "one day we will pray for the defeat of the ANC government".