Stage built at Mandela homestead almost done

Qunu — The construction of a large stage at former president Nelson Mandela’s homestead at Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, was nearing completion yesterday.
The stage will be used during Mandela’s funeral on Sunday.
On Wednesday afternoon, workers were using a yellow crane to position panels on the structure’s domed roof.
Nearby, a red and white tent had been erected.

Several goods trucks were parked on the gravel road leading to the house.
There were fewer police officers and soldiers compared to previous days.

Access to the Mandela homestead was tightly controlled, and police had blocked off all roads leading to the main gate.
Police had also closed the N2, which is the main road to and from Qunu and which runs past the homestead, for a few kilometres on both sides of Mandela’s house.

The side road through Qunu, which the media and other people have used to get to the house, was closed late on Tuesday afternoon.
“Go away. You are not allowed here or anywhere close to the house,” said a policeman.

He would not answer questions about how locals would get to their homes or the community centre.
OR Tambo district mayor Nomakhosazana Meth said the municipality was ready for the influx of people expected at Mandela’s funeral.
She said alternative routes would be available to avoid congestion in Qunu and Mthatha.

Meanwhile, a woman with the South African flag draped over her shoulders broke down into tears after seeing former president Nelson Mandela’s body at the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday.

“It’s a blessing for me,” Frida Manamela said, trying to hold back her tears.
“It reminds me of the old days. I think I’m okay now after seeing his face. The old man is now at peace,” she said, before bursting into tears again.

Mandela’s body was lying in state in the amphitheatre, the site where he was inaugurated as the country’s first democratically-elected president in 1994.

Motheo Modiba, a 20-year-old university student, said she felt honoured to see Mandela.
“Oh my gosh, it was awesome yet so scary,” she said.
“I feel that it was a blessing. He… still looked handsome.”

Rita Fatyela, an ANC Women’s League member from Villiersdorp in the Western Cape said she was happy she could see Mandela.
“I feel very happy because I could see my lord; Mandela is my lord.
“He looked beautiful. Papa is not dead, he is sleeping,” Fatyela said.

Prince Mashiane, from Soshanguve, sat on a bench in front of the Union Buildings looking out over Pretoria. He had not gone to see the body yet.

“We lost a father. We lost such a great man,” he said staring out into the distance.
Hundreds of people continued to queue at the Union Buildings waiting for their chance to bid Mandela farewell.
Vanessa Narainsamy wore a green, yellow and black sari in honour of Mandela and the ANC.

“As you can see, I’m clad in the ANC colours; I think he [Mandela] would have appreciated that.”
She said seeing the body had given her closure.

“It was such a good experience, more of a relief… He always meant so much to me.”
Narainsamy said it was always her desire to meet the struggle icon, which she got to do yesterday.
“You have these mixed emotions, you just want to cry out. He stole everyone’s heart.”

Jared Reddy, 16, who flew up from Durban, said it was an experience for him to see Mandela.
“It was a great experience, especially being someone who was born in the new South Africa.
“We lost a great icon who will be sorely missed,” said Reddy.

Mandela will again be transported from One Military Hospital to the Union Buildings today, where his body will lie in state for a third and last day.

Members of the public are invited to line the route and form a public guard of honour while his body is being transported.
People can view the body from 08:00 to 17:30.

Mandela died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, last Thursday, at the age of 95.
The official memorial service was held at the FNB Stadium, in Soweto, on Tuesday, and was attended by about 100 current and former heads of state and government.

He will be buried in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.
In Cape Town, tens of thousands danced and sang for Nelson Mandela on Wednesday as formal ceremonies were put aside to celebrate the hero who was known for his own trademark shuffle.

International and local stars from Johnny Clegg to Annie Lennox took to the stage in the free concert in Cape Town to pay tribute to Mandela’s remarkable life and journey.

“This is what he would have liked because he liked music very much,” said Nodumo Dayimani, 33.
“He knows how we celebrate in South Africa – we like to sing, we like to dance. I’m sure he would have loved it.”
Sitting a stone’s throw from the stage, Dayimani said she was there to pay her last respects to “a great man”.

“The last few days were very formal and very difficult for all of us. Now that we have accepted everything . . . it’s time for us to celebrate his life.”

Posters of Mandela waved across the crowd in the stadium, which a city official estimated at between 40,000 and 50,000.
While there were occasional tears when the music saw emotions spill over, the dominant atmosphere was joyful as the crowd overcame the blow of his death by letting their hair down.

“We’re celebrating his life,” said Maryam Valodia, 20, who was born the year before Mandela became president in 1994.
While she had shed “happy tears”, she said the concert was fitting as “Madiba was a very happy person”, referring to his clan name as he was affectionately known

“We love Madiba. He’s our father and we are his nation,” said Valodia.
“I didn’t personallly know him but what he did for us — it’s just love.”

A poignant moment was when Clegg, sang his powerful anti-apartheid ballad Asimbonanga which tells of not having seen Mandela when he was in prison and saw voices in the crowd rise up to join him.

In 1999, Mandela joined Clegg on stage when he was performing the song in France, dancing with both arms swaying and his feet shuffling in delight at the music, with the video a hit online.