Johannesburg – The OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is a hive of activity this afternoon with less than 24 hours before the eyes of the world are cast on South Africa for the official memorial service of the country’s late icon Nelson Mandela.
Dignitaries continued to arrive at the country’s biggest airport on Monday to pay their last respects to the man who has been revered the world over.
Government has confirmed that more than 70 Heads of State and Government are making their way to South Africa for the memorial service, which will be held at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
SAnews spoke to a few dignitaries who arrived at ORT airport a short while ago – they all had one message for South Africa and that is "the world has lost a great leader."
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose aircraft landed at 3pm said he would not have missed Madiba’s memorial service for anything.
“I am sure many people feel like me. Mandela is a leader that this continent is proud of. He cannot be measured [next to] anyone. We take pride in the fact that we lived in his time.”
But Obasanjo, who led Nigeria out of military dictatorship, felt that South Africans and the world should not mourn Madiba.
“Considering his age, this is not the time for mourning. It is a time to celebrate his life. Of course we share our deepest sympathy with the family for their loss, but their loss is also our loss.”
Madiba, he said, was a world icon whose legacy will be felt for many generations to come.
“We salute the people of South Africa for sharing him with us because today the teachings and the reconciliatory tone that was associated with Mandela are felt throughout the world,” said Obasanjo.
“I knew Mandela both as a leader and personally as someone I could speak to when I needed counsel. He will be dearly missed by the people of Nigeria and I’m quite certain the world and Africa will miss him.”
Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country had declared Tuesday as a national day of mourning.
“It is the least we can do for somebody like Nelson Mandela. He was an icon who taught us courage and forgiveness. This moment it not the end of the legend, we share our sympathies and call on the people of the world to unite in honour of this icon”.
The Foreign Minister of Nepal Madkan Prasad Glimere urged South Africans not to forget the humanity of Nelson Mandela and the vision of peace he continued to have for the world since his release from Robben Island more than two decades ago.
“His vision for a prosperous, peaceful and united world continues to inspire all of us, In Nepal we have learned so much from his wisdom. We learned so much from him and in that we always try to use his approach to solve our own conflicts in our country,” he said.
Glimere said Mandela’s exemplary leadership transcended beyond the South African borders as his voice found its place in international bodies and countries like the United States and Britain.
“[His] leadership and how he managed South Africa is something that is beyond belief. We have to learn from this and the whole world can be a better place.”
Other leaders who arrived at OR Tambo airport include United National Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, his predecessor Kofi Annan, Australian Prime Minister Tonny Abbot as well as African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Several heads of state are expected to touchdown at Waterkloof within the next 12 hours.
Security is expected to be tight at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday and no public transport will be allowed in the stadium precinct. Several roads will also be closed to normal traffic for the duration of the service.
State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele told SAnews that all security arrangements were in place to ensure that both the memorial service and the state funeral in Qunu, Eastern Cape, take place without any major problem.
“So far everything is fine. We are just busy with final preparations this afternoon at the Union Buildings for tomorrow. We are expecting people to arrive tomorrow morning and it’s quite a lot.
“So far, we haven’t met any hassles and we want to keep it that way - bearing in mind that organising for such an event, you never plan but we are doing well so far,” said Cwele. - SAnews.gov.za
