The dreams unfolded, in broad daylight, amid the strains of muted jazz trumpet, screams, toyi-toyi chants and poetry. Little Boitumelo Sisulu had been sleeping on the lap of a woman in the grandstand as the dream unfolded. A massive balloon of black, green and gold colours stood in the air above the pitch as the girl slept soundly under a black, green and gold umbrella. 

The dreams continued unfoldings. Six helicopters arrived at 2pm and hovered around South Africa's biggest stadium amid cheers and chants of "ANC, ANC, ANC''. Four of the choppers disappeared and two remained, hovering above the pitch. Clad in pink slacks, with black, green and gold ribbons in her hair, four-year-old Boitumelo had been munching away at a hard peach before she dozed off. After all, she had been at the stadium from as early as Sam to see the game for which South Africans had been yearning for decades. She is in pre-school, and sitting and waiting all day without the occasional nap was totally strange. She had thought, however, the spectre of Nelson Mandela would perform a miracle and make her stay awake all day on Tuesday. 

Boitumelo is the daughter of Sheila and Mlungisi Sisulu, son of Walter Sisulu. She and the throngs of South Africans of all hues had come to see Nelson Mandela make a triumphal return to his hometown. The sea of people from all segments of South African political opinion occupied every single space in the stadium, which was already bursting at the seams two hours before Mandela was scheduled to arrive. Many were to remain outside and hear their idol speak. The crowds outside jostled for entry at the gates outside the stadium. In the process some children were almost crushed. 

An elaborate system of doctors, nurses and other members of the South African Health Workers Congress was at hand to care for the injured and ferry them to hospital. There was self-discipline and order enforced, not by the police, but by South African Youth Congress marshals. The marshals enforced order on the police too. I saw a contingent of policemen being led in convoy into the open parking area by a marshal, who held a large ANC sign high. I'm not sure how committed they were to the struggle, but the convoy too shouted "Viva Mandela" as they followed the grinning marshal. 

The two helicopters landed on the pitch. The stadium thundered with screams of "Viva Mandela", followed by "ANC, ANC, ANC" chants. Then Mandela arrived, followed by fellow African National Congress leaders Walter Sisulu, Andrew Mlangeni and Ahmed Kathrada. Next came Winnie Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, June Mlangeni and Caroline Motsoaledi, as well as Rivonia trial lawyers, Arthur Chaskalson and George Bizos. 

As the party took their seats, the crowds stood up and cheered. Then they sang: Somlandel 'uMandela (we'll follow Mandela). Sisulu then presented Mandela to his followers. They rose again and 150 000 fists punched the air as the throngs sang the people's national anthem. Mandela spoke: "We are going forward. The march to wards freedom and justice is irreversible ... Your struggles, commitment and your discipline has released me to stand here before you today- We call on the police to abandon apartheid and to serve the interests of the people ... Join our march to a new South Africa."

The old lion roared: "Afrika!" at the end of his speech. The crowd roared back: ''Mayibuye!" The ANC rallying call was popular in the 1950s, but was later abandoned with the rise of socialism among young militants in the movement. It was clear Mandela the unifier was fired by a spirit of nationalism. We again sang the national anthem. The helicopters returned. The drum majorettes in their black, green and gold uniforms did their bit. 

Mandela and his entourage sauntered towards the aircrafts, amid the strains of Miles Davis' muted trumpted. The tune Tutu had been dedicated to Archbishop Desmond Tutu by the legendary trumpist. "It's a dream," said pop singer Mercy Pakela, as the choppers rose and disappeared in the blue sky. So said everyone. I counted the dreams. There were 150 000.

This article originally appeared in the Weekly Mail.