KUELEKEA MAZISHI YA MZEE MADIBA.
Nelson Mandela's body lying in state in Pretoria
The body of Nelson Mandela has been taken in procession to the Union Buildings in Pretoria
The
body of Nelson Mandela has arrived at the main government building in
South Africa's capital, Pretoria, where it will lie in state for three
days.
His remains were taken in procession from a hospital mortuary to the Union Buildings.Members of the public lined the route to form a "guard of honour".
The public, invited heads of state and international guests will be able to view the body of the former president who died last Thursday, aged 95.
He will be buried in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service on Tuesday as part of a series of commemorations.
The body of Nelson Mandela arrived at Pretoria's Union Buildings early on Wednesday
Small crowds had gathered as Mr Mandela's body was driven through Pretoria
The mood was celebratory rather than sombre
His coffin was draped in the South African flag
It travelled along Kgosi Mampuru Street and Madiba Street on the way to the Union Buildings.
The hearse was in a long convoy with military outriders and military ambulances.
The convoy sped quickly through the streets, with some people running alongside the military guard, the BBC's Joseph Winter in Pretoria says.
- Lots of claims that man signing President Obama was free styling, making up signs as he went along. Can't believe he hasn't be identified.
Ros Atkins just now Jump out of Tweet pane - SA Deaf Federation tells me on @bbcworldservice: there is only one sign language in SA, the man signing Obama speech wasn't using it.
Ros Atkins 3 minutes ago Jump out of Tweet pane - Filling the shoes of Nelson Mandela. Cartoon by the always spot on GADO http://t.co/25l2z36w8u
will ross 9 minutes ago Jump out of Tweet pane - RT @gabrielapomeroy: #bbcnewsday @BBCBola with crowds at union buildings @bbcafrica #mandela http://t.co/PCAJQRvJQZ
Simon Peeks 10 minutes ago Jump out of Tweet pane - Whilst people are praying for the soul of Nelson Mandela there's a lot of talk in South Africa of the governing ANC losing its soul.
will ross 11 minutes ago Jump out of Tweet pane
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Mr Mandela's remains will make the journey from the military hospital every morning from Wednesday until Friday, the government announced.
"The public are encouraged to form a guard of honour by lining the streets," it said. The Union Buildings are the official seat of the South African government, where Mr Mandela was sworn in as the first black president in 1994.
At the memorial service on Tuesday, President Jacob Zuma announced that the Union Buildings would be renamed the Mandela Amphitheatre.
The Mandela family and selected VIP visitors will be able to view the body from 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Continue reading the main story
Lying in State
- Nelson Mandela's body lie in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria 11-13 December
- Coffin taken every morning from the mortuary to the Union Buildings
- Public encouraged to line the route
- Mandela family and selected visitors will be able to view the body from 10:00 on Wednesday; public can file past from 12:00 to 17:30
- The public will then be able to view the body from 08:00 to 17:30 on Thursday and Friday
Members of the public can file past from 12:00 to 17:30.
The public will then be able to view the body from 08:00 to 17:30 on Thursday and Friday.'Great liberator' US President Barack Obama led the tributes to Mr Mandela at Tuesday's memorial service in rainy weather at the FNB stadium in Soweto.
He said the former South African president was a "giant of history", describing him as the last great liberator of the 20th Century.
"We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. While I will always fall short of Madiba [Mr Mandela's clan name], he makes me want to be a better man."
On Saturday, Mr Mandela's remains will be transported to the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival. The coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and then transported to a hearse.
The BBC's Clive Myrie spoke to a group of mourners who said they wanted to the see the late president "for the last time"
A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings.
Big screens have been set up across the country to show the planned national events.
Nelson Mandela memorial service: In pictures
Tens of thousands
of people joined world leaders at a memorial service for former South
African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. The service was held
at the FNB stadium, where Mr Mandela made his last public appearance. It
was also shown on big screens at three "overflow" stadiums.
There had been fears people would be turned away, but the heavy rain left areas of the 95,000 capacity stadium empty.
The service is held in front of a vociferous crowd in the FNB stadium.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu addresses the stadium, asking the crowd to be quiet - he "wants to hear a pin drop".
US President Barack Obama is welcomed by a
huge cheer from the crowd as he begins his speech, in which he
describes Mr Mandela as a "giant of history", adding: "The world thanks
you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us."
On his way to the podium, President Obama
shakes hands with Cuban President Raul Castro, an unprecedented gesture
between the leaders of two nations that have been at loggerheads for
more than half a century.
There were some boos for current South
African President Jacob Zuma, but his keynote address was respectfully
heard. He said Mr Mandela had been "one of a kind... a fearless freedom
fighter who refused to allow the brutality of the apartheid state to
stand in way of the struggle for the liberation of his people".
John Simpson, the BBC's World Affairs
Editor said: "Despite the difficulties - the driving rain and logistical
challenges - of organising this event, it must remain a source of
immense pride for South Africans that a memorial for one of their own
has attracted such an array of world dignitaries."
Those attending the service included US
President Barack Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Cuban
President Raul Castro, French President Francois Hollande and British
Prime Minister David Cameron.
Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel
listens to the tributes including that by UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon who said: "Mandela hated hatred. Not the people. He showed
wholesome power of forgiveness. A unique gift."
Former British Prime Minister John Major (centre) greets former US Presidents George W Bush (right) and Bill Clinton (left).
Outside the stadium a man prepares to sell portraits of Mr Mandela.
The heavy rain continued as deputy
president of the ANC Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the crowd and welcomed
those in the stadium and those watching around South Africa and around
the world. He said: "In our tradition, when it rains when you are
buried, your gods are welcoming you to heaven."
Flags and banners are waved as the memorial gets under way just over an hour late.
There were cheers of "Winnie! Winnie!" for ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as she made her way to her seat inside the stadium.
The crowd sang and danced as they waited for the service to start inside the stadium.
South Africa's Archbishop Emeritus
Desmond Tutu, a leading figure in the struggle against apartheid earlier
said of Mandela: "He was a unifier from the moment he walked out of
prison. We are relieved that his suffering is over, but our relief is
drowned by our grief."
Since Mandela's death, Johannesburg has
been blanketed in unseasonal cloud and rain but despite this the
atmosphere inside the stadium was one of joy and celebration.
As the time for the ceremony to start
draws near some of the dignitaries arrive, including South Africa's last
white president FW De Klerk with his wife Elita.
Mr Mandela's successor as president, Thabo Mbeki arrives with his wife Zanele.
Alongside the politicians a number of
figures from the world of entertainment attended the ceremony, including
U2's lead singer Bono and South African actress Charlize Theron.
The former South African president died
aged 95 last Thursday and the country is observing a series of
commemorations leading up to the funeral on Sunday.
The BBC's Clive Myrie was outside the
stadium and said: "A trickle of people are still arriving on buses, but
the stadium is still only half full - it is torrential rain out here and
I'm sure that it is affecting the number of people arriving. The
"spillover" areas are said to be empty."
The ceremony was broadcast across the world, with many in South Africa tuning in.
The memorial service lasted four hours.
The service is being seen as a
celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela with the crowd singing and
chanting as they arrived inside the stadium.
A mourner poses with his home-made hat as he arrives at the stadium.
Plastic sheeting is removed from chairs on the main stage. More than 90 current heads of state or government attended.
The crowds were in high spirits - singing and dancing and stomping their feet.
For some the long wait is too much.
Pictures of Mandela are everywhere, on banners, flags and even tattoos.
The BBC's Pumza Fihlani reported that hundreds had formed queues outside by 05:00 eager to get one of the 95,000 seats.
The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral on Sunday.
Some of the crowd arrived early, many
singing songs from the fight against apartheid whilst waiting for
several hours to get into the stadium
SOURCE:BBCNEWS
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