South Africans will on Wednesday morning line the streets of Pretoria to see Nelson Mandela’s body as it’s driven to the Union Buildings, where he will lie in state for three days.

Family and dignitaries will on Wednesday first view Madiba’s body before mourners will be allowed to file past the casket. About 2,000 people are expected each hour to pay their respects to the anti-apartheid icon.

Officials said to ensure that each person visits the Union Buildings amphitheater only once, their fingers will be marked with the same indelible ink used to identify voters in South African elections.

People will be invited to come out Thursday and Friday morning to see the casket transported from a military hospital to the amphitheater where Mandela was inaugurated in 1994. Public viewing of the casket will follow for nine hours each day.

it was announced that the amhpitheater will be renamed for Mandela.

“This is a fitting tribute to a man who transformed the Union Buildings from a symbol of racism and repression to one of peace, unity, democracy and progress,” South African President Jacob Zuma said.

The public is urged to take note of road closures that will be in place from 11 to 13 December between 5 am and 9 am. This is to allow for the cortège of Madiba to pass through from 1 Military Hospital to the Union Buildings, where his body will be lying in state.

The way-procession will be as follows:

• 1 Military Hospital on Old Pretoria Road proceeding to join Kgosi Mampuru Street (former Potgieter Street)
• The procession will continue along Kgosi Mampuru Street until the intersection of Madiba Street (former Vermeulen Street)
• The procession will then proceed in the eastern direction towards the Union Buildings.

The abovementioned roads and all crossing intersections will be closed by the Tshwane Metro Police daily from 5 am and not later than 9 am, for the procession.

The public should note that all the roads adjacent to the Union Buildings will be closed to traffic during the three-day period.

The Jan Smuts Drive (Old Johannesburg Road) will be closed from the off-ramp to Eufees Road and the N14 freeway from Eufees Road.

Selected sections of the route will be reopened once the area has been cleared by security personnel.

The public is advised to use alternative routes and not to travel through the Pretoria CBD during the abovementioned times.