Pretoria – Government has urged mourners who are visiting the Union Buildings to view former President Nelson Mandela’s body, to be patient and comply with military protocols.
“Government is trying to accommodate as many people as possible. For this to happen, visitors must comply with the very strict military protocols that govern the lying-in-state,” said the Minister for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, Collins Chabane.
He said cellphones will need to be switched off and out of sight at the Union Buildings and no cameras will be allowed.
“Indelible ink, such as that used during elections, will be used to mark mourners’ fingers so that no-one will be able to visit the Union Buildings more than once.
“Visitors will not be able to stop at the casket as the continuous movement of people will help us to accommodate as many mourners as possible. This way, we expect that up to 2 000 people per hour could file past the casket,” Chabane said on Wednesday.
He said children were welcomed to join their parents but parents must use the necessary discretion, as the event can be emotional for some adults or children.
He said visitors will return to the park-and-ride sites on the same shuttles. “This means no-one will be able to leave the Union Buildings precinct on foot.”
The suburbs surrounding the Union Buildings will be closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrians unless the necessary permission is given.
He urged people that apart from being shuttled to the Union Buildings, there is no other way people can get to the Union Buildings.
“We call on people to cooperate with authorities at all stages of the process to ensure that it is safe and dignified and that as many people as possible can share in this unique occasion,” he said.
He said mourners must set out from home early in the morning and be prepared to wait in line.
“Government appeals for calm and decency in cases where people are turned away, as the protocol dictates that viewing is from 8am to 5.30pm. Organisers will stop loading people onto buses at about 4-4.30pm,” Chabane said.
Members of the public have been advised that the cut-off has been reached for the number of people wishing to view Mandela’s body this afternoon.
Madiba’s body will be lying in state at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre until 5.30pm.
“Large numbers of people are still in queues at the various points around the City of Tshwane from which mourners are being transported to the Union Buildings. Government welcomes the interest people have showed in wanting to bid Madiba farewell, but we have reached the limit for the day,” he said.
The public will be able to view the body again from 8am until 5:30pm on Thursday and Friday.
The main park-and-ride points from which people are being shuttled to the Union Buildings are the Tshwane Events Centre, or Tshwabac, and the LC de Villiers (South St entrance) sports complex in Hatfield.
The Fountains Valley park-and-ride site is an overflow point, from which visitors are transferred to the Events Centre or LC de Villiers, where they are prepared for the visit to the Union Buildings.
People are advised to keep following media for details for road closures and other arrangements and find information on the City of Tshwane’s website www.tshwane.gov.za, or the government memorial website www.mandela.gov.za.
Updates can also be followed on social media. – SAnews.gov.za
