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Nelson Mandela's family today spoke out for the first time since his death, admitting they had �lost a great man, a son of the soil�. Their statement came as it was revealed today that a funeral cortege bearing Mr Mandela's body will travel through Pretoria for three days ahead of the late South African president�s burial. The country�s government said that the cortege will leave a morgue on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning to go to the Union Buildings where his body will lie in state, ahead of Sunday�s burial. Lt Gen Temba Templeton Matanzima, a spokesman for the family, read a statement, which said: �The pillar of the royal Mandela family is no more with us physically, but his spirit is still with us. �We have lost a great man, a son of the soil whose greatness in our family was in the simplicity of his nature in our midst - a caring family leader who made time for all� we will miss him dearly.� Overwhelming crowds and a host of world leaders are expected to attend services honouring Mr Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95, with hundreds already flocking to his home in Houghton. Meanwhile, Downing Street confirmed today that Prime Minister David Cameron has written to South Africa's president Jacob Zuma and Mr Mandela's widow Graca Machel to express his condolences.