South Africa

Mthatha - International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane says saying goodbye to former President Nelson Mandela "won't be easy".

Pretoria- The late former President Nelson Mandela’s coffin has left the capital city and is making its way to his final resting place in the Eastern Cape.

Mthatha – “Madiba has been my friend for 65 years. Today I am very, very sad.”

Pretoria - The African National Congress (ANC) has bid farewell to former President Nelson Mandela as he is about to embark on his final trip to his home village of Qunu, where he will be buried on Sunday.

Qunu – The village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape is relatively quiet this morning, ahead of the arrival of the late former President Nelson Mandela’s remains, later today.

Pretoria – The late former President Nelson Mandela will be buried on Sunday at the family farm in Qunu, Eastern Cape, at noon.

Pretoria – African National Congress (ANC) stalwarts have gathered at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria to bid farewell to former President Nelson Mandela.

Qunu – Preparations for the arrival of the remains of former President Nelson Mandela are at an advanced stage, with Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi saying that Mthatha Airport will be ready by midnight on Friday to receive the remains.

Pretoria - Former President Nelson Mandela’s remains will fly to his final resting place in the Eastern Cape at 10:45am on Saturday, family spokesperson General Themba Matanzima said.

Pretoria – As the third and final day of the public viewing drew to a close on Friday, government confirmed that about 100 000 people paid homage to former President Nelson Mandela, whose body has been lying in state, at the Union Buildings, in Pretoria, since Wednesday.

Pretoria – The body of late former President Nelson Mandela has returned to 1 Military Hospital, concluding the lying in state phase of the 10-day mourning period.

Pretoria - Thousands of people who turned up at the park and ride facilities are starting to make their way back home following the shutting down of transportation to the Union Buildings to view the late former President Nelson Mandela’s body.

Pretoria – Officials are this afternoon performing a full rehearsal of the procession that will take place on Saturday as the body of the late former President Nelson Mandela makes its way home.

Pretoria - With less than five hours to go before the cut-off time to view Madiba’s remains as they lie in state at the Union Buildings, throngs of grieving South Africans are still standing in long queues stretching across the Fountains Valley Resort where the City of Tshwane has implemented a park-and–ride facility.

Pretoria – Several current and former heads of state and government, imminent persons, heads of delegation, heads of international organisations and the diplomatic corp are expected to attend the State Funeral of the late former President Nelson Mandela in Qunu in the Eastern Cape.