The major events marking the final funeral rites for the late former South African President Nelson Mandela will hold today. No fewer than 80,000 people, including about 60 world leaders will participate in a memorial service at the FNB stadium in Johannesburg.
Ahead of today’s event, a special joint session of parliament was held in Cape Town yesterday to allow South African politicians from all political parties to mark the passing of the nation’s first black president.
President Jacob Zuma urged the country to remember the values of peace and forgiveness that Mr Mandela lived by and uphold them.
His sentiments were echoed by the anti-apartheid icon’s family, who released a statement calling on South Africans to “keep the dream alive”.
The huge memorial service is due to take place at the stadium where Mr Mandela made his last public appearance during the 2010 World Cup Final.
President Goodluck Jonathan, United States President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon are among the dignitaries.
A programme released by the South African government showed that Obama would speak, as would Ki-moon and Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao. Other speakers include Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Cuban President Raul Castro. South African President Jacob Zuma will give the keynote address.
Though security remains a concern, an AP reporter walked unsearched into the stadium yesterday by showing only a national press card issued in Europe. It took about three minutes before a security officer asked journalists to leave the stadium’s field. However, reporters freely roamed throughout the stadium and walked the aisles to see the ongoing stage construction.
Officials from the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg also toured the venue, but declined to speak to journalists.
From tomorrow, Mandela’s body will “lie in state” in Pretoria at the Union Buildings where he governed as president between 1994 and 1999.
A funeral cortege carrying his remains will pass through the capital daily until Friday, with South Africans being urged to line the streets to form a “guard of honour”.
The state funeral will take place in Mandela’s ancestral homeland of Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.
Many world leaders are expected to travel to the usually sleepy rural village to join Mr Mandela’s family, friends and former comrades in bidding farewell to the revered statesman.
Former US Presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and their wives will also be present at the event.
George H W Bush is the only living US president who will not attend. His spokesman said the 89-year-old is no longer able to travel long distances.
The American leaders will join dozens of other dignitaries, including about 60 heads of state who have confirmed their attendance at this week’s memorial events.
Cameron will attend the main memorial service on Tuesday, while Prince Charles will represent Britain at Sunday’s state funeral.
Celebrities, including Bono, Oprah Winfrey and Sir Richard Branson are expected to head to the country to pay their personal tributes to the man they considered a friend.
