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1537: Mr Zuma announced the amphitheater at the Union Buildings in Pretoria will be called the Nelson Mandela amphitheater.
1516: Mr Zuma said today the whole world is standing still again to pay tribute to this greatest son of South Africa and Africa. He said the armed struggle was a means to an end, it was not an end in itself.South Africa needed a leader like Madiba to help them through a difficult transition from to a free, democratic society.
South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma is currently addressing the gathering.
The memorial service for Nelson Mandela is under way at the FNB Stadium in Soweto.
Nearly 100 heads of state and tens of thousands of people have packed into the stadium for the four-hour service to pay tribute to the late statesman.
12:35 – Andrew Mlangeni delivers a tribute as a ‘family friend’. He spent many years on Robben Island with Madiba.
Johannesburg – At least 101 current and former heads of state and government are in South Africa to attend a memorial service being held here for late former President Nelson Mandela who died last week.
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, who is accompanied by First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, is among the world leaders who have descended on South Africa for the memorial service to be held at the FNB stadium.
Gates into the stadium opened at 6 am and despite the chilly weather, which is accompanied by light showers, people could be seen waiting in queues as early as 3 am.
South African Police Service officials have assured mourners that security would be tight, urging people who would be turned away to co-operate with the police.
Mandela’s eldest daughter Makaziwe told SABC news that her family was grateful for the support that they had received from South Africans and the world at large.
“On behalf of the Mandelas I can only say thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” she said.
His former personal assistant, Selder Lachrange, said today’s gathering provided an opportunity for enemies to settle differences in honor of what Mandela did in bringing people together.
Lachrange said, even in death, Mandela was doing what he did in his entire life, bringing people together.
“Madiba had friends and we were sometimes frowned upon but you have to honour those relationships.
People should all be honouring their relationship with Madiba and if it means shaking hands with the enemy I would like to see that,” she also told SABC news.
A series of events have been lined up across South Africa to commemorate the life of a man who was the country’s first black leader after the end of white-minority rule in 1994.
The service is being touted as one of the largest gatherings of global leaders in recent history.
Other African heads of state attending include President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, DRC’s President Joseph Kabila, President Hifikepunye Pohamba from Namibia and President John Dramani of Ghana.
Internationally, US President Barack Obama is attending along with his predecessors Bill Clinton, George Bush and Jimmy Carter.
Other dignitaries attending include royalty from the United Kingdom, officials from the World Bank, IMF, the African Union, the Commonwealth and celebrities including Oprah Winfrey.
Mandela will be buried on Sunday at his ancestral home in Qunu,
Eastern Cape. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter