Thursday, December 12, 2013

Pretoria Congested As Heavy Crowds File Past Madiba’s Body


South Africans have been flocking in to view the body of former President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria.
 
Mr Mandela's body is expected to lie in state at the government buildings where he was sworn in as South Africa's first black president in 1994.
 
Among those paying their respects were his widow Graca Machel, President Jacob Zuma, celebrities including Bono and other relatives and officials.
 
Mr Mandela died last Thursday at the age of 95 and will be buried on Sunday. His funeral will take place in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape Province.
 
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.
 
Mr Mandela's coffin will be lying in state for two more days, so the disappointed can try again on Thursday.
 
The coffin could be seen inside a black hearse, draped in a South African flag, in a convoy with military outriders and ambulances.
 
Mr Mandela's remains will make the journey from the military hospital every morning from Wednesday until Friday, the government announced.
 
After Mr Mandela's body has lain in state for three days, the military will fly him to the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria.
 
A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse.
 
Mr Mandela's body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony. 
 
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 South Africa to show the planned national events.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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