President Jacob Zuma has said that Mandela would be afforded a state funeral, adding: “I have ordered that all flags of the Republic of South Africa be lowered to half mast … and to remain at half-mast until after the funeral.”
A black hearse carrying Madiba’s coffin, draped in the national flag, left his home in Houghton, a suburb of Johannesburg, around 2am.
The van was accompanied by a slow-moving convoy, escorted by police motorcyclists riding in a V formation with flashing lights and a helicopter.
Zuma said South Africa will observe 10 days of mourning, before a funeral is held on Sunday December 15 in Qunu, the village in Eastern Cape where he was born.
The funeral will be a huge state affair, rivaling that of Pope John Paul II and former prime minister Winston Churchill.
World leaders past and present, including every living US president, are expected to attend alongside royalty and celebrities.
Prior to the burial itself, there will be a number of memorial services and events to honour the former president.
Tomorrow, December 8, has been declared a national day of prayer, reflection and meditation.
Zuma invited people to spend the day in churches, mosques, synagogues, homes, and anywhere else they might choose to reflect on Madiba’s life and his “contribution to our contry and the world”.
Then on Tuesday December 10, an official memorial service will be held at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The stadium, known as Soccer City, can hold more than 90,000 people.
From December 11 to 13, Mandela’s body will lie in state at South Africa’s seat of government – Pretoria’s Union Buildings – while further memorial services are held throughout the country.
His body will then be taken to Qunu for his funeral on December 15.
Speaking about the task facing South Africa in organising such an important funeral, a senior foreign diplomat told the Guardian: “He is the hero of the planet.
“It’s going to be the biggest state funeral since Winston Churchill, and I think any country would struggle to organise that.”
The newspaper reports that Mandela’s body will be moved to a mortuary under police guard while foreign diplomats will discuss logistics for the former president to lie in state.
A memorial service is expected to be held, hosted by President Zuma and attended by dignitaries, before Mandela will lie in state at Pretoria city hall for three days. The coffin will reportedly have a glass top for viewing.
The funeral will also be rehearsed by the South African military several days before the service itself, which will e held at the Union Buildings amphitheatre and shown on large screens for the huge crowds.
Westminster Abbey will hold a national service of thanksgiving for the life of Mandela after the state funeral in South Africa.
A book of condolence will be opened at St Margaret’s Church at the Abbey from 9.30am today.
The Dean and Chapter of Westminster sent a message of condolence to the High Commissioner for South Africa.
The message read: “The Dean and Chapter of Westminster sends condolences to the family of Madiba and to the government and people of South Africa on the death of their former President, Nelson Mandela.
“He was an iconic figure who changed irrevocably the course of history in his country and the African continent and who changed the world’s attitude to issues of equality and human justice.”
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