Thousands gather to pray for Madiba
JOBURG - Thousands of people including representatives of various religious groupings, traditional leaders and political leaders gathered at the Standard Bank Arena for a prayer service in honour of Nelson Mandela on 9 December.
Busloads of people who attended the event arrived dressed in the ANC party colours.
Party deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the crowd and said President Jacob Zuma had asked him to speak on his behalf. Zuma was busy with funeral arrangements for Mandela’s burial.
Ramaphosa said Mandela would have been pleased to see people celebrate his life through song and dance, as the crowd gathered at the venue had done.
We are aware that a large number of events are being held in South Africa and abroad today, giving people an opportunity to come together in fellowship and reflection,” Ramaphosa said. “We hope these events will bring comfort and healing to congregants and participants, and that it will inspire all of humanity to ensure that Madiba’s values live on in our hearts and in our actions.”
He added, “As these events take place, government agencies will be hard at work making preparations for the rest of the week’s official programme.”
Minister Collins Chabane issued a statement on behalf of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Mandela’s state funeral.
He said the government was heartened by the positive response of various communities of faith and other civil society formations to Zuma’s call for Sunday to be observed as a day of prayer and reflection.
