Family, friends, world leaders and South Africans view Nelson Mandela’s body
The first batch of mourners to pay homage to Madiba, led by President Jacob Zuma, included an emotional Graca Machel, Madiba’s wife, as well as former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Nelson Mandela’s body has returned to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, which played host to his presidential inauguration nearly 20 years ago and heralding the beginning of a new era in South Africa’s history.
Madiba’s coffin draped in the South African flag arrived in a glass-sided hearse just before 8am this morning after travelling in procession from 1 Military Hospital. His grandson, Ndaba Mandela, welcomed Madiba’s body to the newly renamed Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre, where he will lie in state until Friday.
Members of the public have been urged to line the route each day to form a public guard of honour for Mandela. They will also be able to view the body the body of the father of the nation.
The body is under constant vigil by the national ceremonial guard of the SA National Defence Force.
The first batch of mourners to pay homage to Madiba, led by President Jacob Zuma, included an emotional Graca Machel, Madiba’s wife, as well as former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the elder stateman’s children and grandchildren, former President Thabo Mbeki and several government ministers.
The second batch to file past the body were leaders from across the world. As most world leaders will not attend Mandela’s official state funeral in Qunu on Sunday, it was an opportunity for them to pay their final respects to a man described by US President Barack Obama, in his speech at the memorial service in Johannesburg on Tuesday, as “the last great liberator of the 20th century”.
The leaders included Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Malawian President Joyce Banda, a delegation from the United Arab Emirates, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Mandela’s trusted aide for many years, Zelda la Grange, cut a poignant figure as she walked hand in hand with Irish singer Bono. Anant Singh, who produced the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, was also among those who came to pay their respects.
Centurion resident Kabelo Gwangwa was one of hundreds of Pretoria residents who lined the streets from the early hours of the morning. He said seeing the hearse that carried Madiba’s coffin had left him speechless. “I thought I would feel hurt, but I was overcome by emotions and a sense of joy filled me when I witnessed this moment.”
He added that what made him feel better was the thought that it was perhaps time that “we let him go, and we have to accept that he is gone.”
Read more:
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