Former president Nelson Mandela will be accorded a State Funeral. President Jacob Zuma ordered that all flags of the Republic of South Africa be lowered to half-mast from Friday and to remain at half-mast until after the funeral.

There will be both public and private farewells for Madiba, who died Thursday around 20:50 at the age of 95.

Madiba’s body was flown to the Waterkloof Airforce Base around 03:30 on Friday before a military convoy transported the body to the 1 Military hospital.

The entrance of the hospital has since been barricaded by police.

His body is reportedly expected to be embalmed at this hospital over the next two to three days.

A memorial service will be held at the Soccer City stadium in the Johannesburg. It is believed Heads of state may attend this public farewell.

For the period of mourning, Mandela’s body is expected to lie in state, guarded by South African National Defence Force personnel.

Next week, either on Friday or Saturday, Mandela is expected to be taken by military aircraft to his ancestral hometown of Qunu, which he had asked to be his final resting place.

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed he will attend Nelson Mandela’s funeral while White House officials have already privately indicated that Obama will be travelling to South Africa at some time during elaborate funeral ceremonies.

According to reports Obama will likely be joined on Air Force One by other key political leaders from the United States,  including some of the living former presidents, who were quick to react to Mandela’s death with their own statements.

Heads of state and royalty from around the world are expected to make the journey to the rural homestead, where a state funeral will be held and Mandela will be laid to rest.