NELSPRUIT – A series of memorials have been announced in the run-up to Nelson Mandela’s funeral – which could be the biggest the world has ever seen – even exceeding that of Winston Churchill. Mandela died at the age of 95 at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Thursday night.
More than 50 heads of state and hundreds of dignitaries and celebrities are expected to arrive in South Africa this week. Parliament’s programme in honour of the former president started in earnest on Monday with the presiding officers leading the placement of flowers at a designated space within the precinct. Ten days of mourning have already been declared.
The funeral will be held on Sunday December 15 in the Eastern Cape village of Qunu where Mandela was born. The service, which is still in the planning stages, will be a state affair and it will be aired live at Mbombela Stadium.
In the meantime, a massive memorial service will be held at FNB Stadium in Soweto today. The stadium can accommodate more than 90 000 people. Metrorail has announced that 41 trains will be available to transport mourners across Gauteng to the service, free of charge. Metrorail spokesman for Gauteng, Ms Lilian Mofokeng, reports it can transport up to 80 000 passengers from as early as 05:00.
Once FNB Stadium reaches its capacity, mourners can use Ellis Park in central Johannesburg as well as Orlando and Dobsonville in Soweto. Metrorail will also transport them to these venues.
There will be two designated train routes shuttling between Johannesburg Park Station-Nasrec Station, Westgate-Nasrec and Johannesburg-Doornfontein. In the Lowveld, a memorial service will be held at Mbombela Stadium today and the service at FNB Stadium will be broadcast live to this venue. It will start at 11:00 and the community is requested to start arriving from 09:00.
At the time of going to press the park-and-ride details had not been announced. From Wednesday, Mandela’s body will lie in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria – while further memorial services are held throughout the country. His body will then be taken to Qunu for the funeral.
The ceremony will be rehearsed by the South African military several days before the service, which will be held at the Union Buildings amphitheatre and aired on large screens. Mourning centres are open for the duration of the mourning period, from 08:00 to 19:00 daily, until Madiba’s funeral. There are national and provincial books of condolences and these are to be archived afterwards.
Each centre has a book in which those paying their respects can write messages.
Mourners can also lay down flowers or mementos. Those from the province will be transported to Mbombela Stadium where a night vigil will be held the day before Madiba’s state funeral.
Designated centres in the Lowveld are located in each municipality. Official mourning centres in Mbombela are the Nelspruit Civic Centre as well as the KaNyamazane, Matsulu and Manzini halls.
In Thaba Chweu Municipality, mourners can visit the town halls in Lydenburg, Sabie and Graskop as well as the Reroro Community Hall.
In the Bushbuckridge Municipality the Marite Community Hall, Mirriam Mokgakane Hall, Margareth Hall, Mhlanga Hall and Mkhuhlu Community Hall will be available.
In Nkomazi Muncipality, the KaMhlushwa, Schoemansdal, Masibekela and Dludluma halls will be used.
The Umjindi Community Hall, Town Council Hall and Cathyville Hall will also be in official use.
An official book of condolences is available at the offices of the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) at Crossing. Ms Linda Grimbeek of the chamber said it was a huge honour to be entrusted with a book from the provincial government.
The Ehlanzeni District Municipality has been designated as the operation centre for mourning activities in the district. Mr Madala Masuku, MEC for finance, requested on behalf of the provincial government that everyone who wished to conduct large memorials of their own should liaise with the district municipality.
Madiba’s home province of the Eastern Cape is preparing for the large number of people expected to attend the funeral. Members of the public who visit the precinct during the week-long programme will get an opportunity to sign the book of condolences and paint their messages on a special “Wall of Remembrance”.
It is part of an exhibition called “Madiba Speaks” which opened on Monday in the parliamentary precinct. The exhibition includes video and still photographic imagery depicting Madiba’s speeches and achievements in a transformed and democratic parliament.
Throughout the week parliament’s doors will open daily from 08:00 until 20:00. Members of the public who wish to visit during this period are required to bring their IDs, passport or driver’s licence for access. Information about the park-and-rides for today’s memorial service at Mbombela Stadium will be published on www.lowvelder.co.za and Lowveld Media’s other title websites as soon as it is available.
