AFRICAN ICON NELSON ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA, 1918 – 2013

South Africans have gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to mourn their former colossus leader, Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday, aged 95.

 

Crowds paid tribute, dancing and singing in front of Mandela's former home in Soweto throughout the night.

 

Flags flew at half mast after President Jacob Zuma announced his death in a late night national TV address.

 

Mandela spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa's first black president in 1994.

 

His administration replaced the racist white-minority regime that had enforced segregation of black and white people in a policy known as apartheid.

 

Mandela went on to become one of the world's most respected statesmen.

 

A service of national mourning is expected to be held at a 95,000-seater stadium on the outskirts of

Johannesburg on Monday. His body will then lie in state for three days in the capital, Pretoria, before being taken for a state funeral in the village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape, where he grew up.

 

Across the world, leaders, celebrities and members of the public have been paying tribute.

 

Flags are flying at half-mast on government buildings in Washington DC, Paris and across South Africa. The European Union and world football body FIFA have also ordered their flags to be lowered.

 

Books of condolence have been opened at public buildings in South Africa and at the country's embassies throughout the world.

 

In his TV address, Mr Zuma said Mandela had died shortly before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

 

"Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said.