Pretoria – A sombre mood has been cast over South Africa this morning as South Africans begin lining the route as President Nelson Mandela’s body proceeds from 1 Military Hospital towards the Union Buildings.
While the weather has cleared, those who are gathering to witness the cortege, led by members of the SA Police Service, are doing so with heavy hearts.
The body is proceeding to the Union Buildings under heavy police guard, for members of the public to view later this morning. Madiba’s remains will lie in state at the Union Buildings from today until Friday.
The cortege departed from 1 Military Hospital on Old Pretoria road towards the City, where it will join Kgosi Mampuru Road until the intersection of Madiba Street, where it will proceed in an eastern direction towards the Union buildings.
The procession will leave 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane at 7am to the Union Buildings, daily until Friday.
Members of the public are urged to line up the routes and form a public guard of honour for Madiba when the remains are transported.
Mandela’s body will be stationed at the Amphitheatre, which is now known as the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre. President Jacob Zuma announced the new name at the memorial service held at the FNB stadium on Tuesday.
The Amphitheatre is where the former President was inaugurated as the first democratically elected President in 1994.
Members of the public will be allowed to view the body, which will be on display at the Amphitheatre.
The procession to the Union Buildings is being led by the Presidency and the Mandela family, followed by Cabinet, Heads of State, and the Gauteng government delegation.
The government delegation will comprise the Executive of the Province, its legislature (MPLs), metro councillors, districts and local councillors, and top senior officials from provinces and municipalities.
The Mandela family and VVIPs will view the body from 10:00 to 12:00.
Members of the public will only start viewing the body from 12:00 to 17:30 and no accreditation is required.
On Thursday and Friday, the public will be able to view Mandela’s remains from 8:00 to 17.30pm.
Due to the anticipated increase of private vehicle use, the City of Tshwane will make use of numerous park and ride facilities for the public at the Tshwane Events Centre, LC De Villiers Sports Facility in Hatfield and Fountains Valley Park to the Union Buildings.
Members of the public are urged to make use of these services, as access to view the body will be restricted to people in city buses only.
Street vendors are advised that no trading will be allowed on the designated roads during the cortege movement during the three days.
Shop owners along these routes are also advised to temporarily close shop, given the large number of people expected to line the streets.
The city will host a memorial service at Lucas Moripe “Masterpieces” stadium on Thursday from 14:00 to honour the democratic capital’s city forefather and founder.
The memorial service will be addressed by senior members of the national Cabinet and interfaith community, supplemented by cultural performance and citations. – SAnews.gov.za
