Rest in peace Mandela, 'South Africa's greatest son'

Rest in peace Mandela, 'South Africa's greatest son' - Times LIVE: " Former president Nelson Mandela's epic journey ended in his ancestral village on Sunday as family and fellow African politicians laid him to rest in the remote hills of Qunu. 

After a tearful funeral service, only a few hundred mourners accompanied his coffin to the cemetery. He was buried beside his parents following a final military salute for the man whose death plunged South Africans into mass mourning.

In his eulogy, President Jacob Zuma acknowledged the disquiet voiced in the past 10 days over the future of the democracy Mandela founded.

"We did not want to confront the reality of your mortality," he told 4500 guests at the funeral service, held in a flower-filled marquee on the Mandela family property.

"As your journey ends today, ours must continue in earnest. One thing we can assure you of today, Tata, as you take your final steps, is that South Africa will continue to rise," he said.


'via Blog this'

Mandela's long walk comes to end

Mandela's long walk comes to end | News24: "Nelson Mandela was buried on Sunday in the African ground he loved after a funeral ceremony that included a 21-gun salute and fly-overs by military aircraft, as well as a eulogy by a traditional leader.

Mandela's casket was lowered into the earth after military pallbearers carried it to the family gravesite in the rolling hills of Qunu.

TV broadcasts showed Mandela's casket at the family gravesite, but the broadcasting was stopped just before the coffin was buried at the request of the Mandela family.

It was SA's final goodbye to the man who reconciled the country in its most volatile period."

'via Blog this'

Zuma vows to continue Mandela's legacy

Zuma vows to continue Mandela's legacy | News | National | Mail & Guardian: "As the world bid Nelson Mandela farewell on Sunday, President Jacob Zuma vowed to carry on his legacy of reconciliation.

"One thing we can assure you as you take your final step, is that South Africa will continue to do [what you wished for]. We will not rest until the majority [of our people] benefit from the fruits of freedom you fought for so hard," said Zuma who has been under pressure to step down because he failed to live up to Madiba's legacy.

Delivering his eulogy at Mandela funeral in Qunu on Sunday, Zuma said: "We will continue to work hard to reduce unemployment and inequality, create decent jobs and [an] accountable public service. We pledge today to continue promoting non-racialism and tolerance in our country and to build a South Africa that truly belongs to all. "

'via Blog this'

From the villages they trek to say farewell

From the villages they trek to say farewell - South Africa | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "Eulogised throughout the week as a global icon, statesman, father of the nation, ANC leader, the commander-in-chief of both the SANDF and MK, on Sunday, the son of Qunu, the chief of Mvezo is home for his final rest.

It was in this part of the world that the first black president was born, and it is here that the village becomes the gateway to his legacy for all the world.

His gravesite is perched atop a hill on his expansive Qunu farm estate and he will be laid to his final rest on Sunday near his son Makgatho Mandela - Mandla Mandela’s father - Madiba’s eldest son Thembekile and Mandela’s first daughter Makaziwe.

It is here in Qunu that the sound of sadness could be heard. It is here that his journey comes full circle. Even though the villagers welcomed their chief, it was the commander-in-chief who took off at Waterkloof Air Force Base and landed at Mthatha airport. The man of peace, the reconciler, was sent off not by men of the cloth, but by the generals of the armed forces."

'via Blog this'

Tutu arrives in Mthatha for Mandela funeral

Tutu arrives in Mthatha for Mandela funeral | News24: "Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu has arrived in Mthatha with Minister in Presidency Trevor Manuel to attend the funeral of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, eNCA has twitted.

Tutu had earlier said he would not go to Qunu because the government had not made him feel welcome and he did not want to "gatecrash" the funeral of his longtime ally and friend."

'via Blog this'

Madiba home at last

Madiba home at last - Eastern Cape | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "South Africa today will sing the last song, cry, mourn and pray as the founding father of South Africa’s democracy, Nelson Mandela, is laid to rest.

His special place, where Madiba’s mortal remains will be committed, is 2.2m deep and is fortified by a special concrete mix that was poured into the grave to stop the soil from pushing up his coffin.

At 2pm on Sunday, after a funeral service and traditional rites that will last four hours, Mandela’s coffin, draped in the South African flag, will be lowered into the grave, watched by his grieving widow Graça Machel, his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mandela’s last journey starts at 7am on Sunday, when the body would leave his Qunu house and make a two-hour procession along a 1.5km stretch to the koppie, or hill, where the funeral and burial were to take place.

More than 20 heads of state as well as the South African cabinet, led by President Jacob Zuma, were due to attend the service."

'via Blog this'

Winnie Mandela would 'do it all over again' for a liberated South Africa

Winnie Mandela would 'do it all over again' for a liberated South Africa - ITV News: "In an exclusive interview with ITV News, Winnie Mandela said she would make the same sacrifices and "do it all over again" to ensure the liberation of South Africa.

Speaking to ITV News presenter Mark Austin, Ms Mandela said: "I would do that 100 times more. I need to go back to those days.

"We had to fight that bitter struggle. I would do it all over again. There is no greater reward than the one we both had of a liberated South Africa"."

'via Blog this'

Zuma deploys army at Mandela events

Zuma deploys army at Mandela events - Eastern Cape | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "President Jacob Zuma gave the go-ahead for the deployment of close to 12 000 troops in state events after the death of Nelson Mandela, the presidency said on Friday.

“[He] informed Parliament [on Thursday] that he had authorised the employment of 11 894 members of the SA National Defence Force for service,” spokesman Mac Maharaj said.

A number of the soldiers would, along with police, be used to maintain law and order during the former president's state funeral in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

Maharaj said exact numbers of troops deployed to Qunu would not be released."

'via Blog this'

Saluting Mandela, an autocratic democrat

Saluting Mandela, an autocratic democrat | News | National | Mail & Guardian: "Nelson Mandela was not always a softie. He was once a militant youth leader who broke up meetings of comrades he disagreed with. The Mandela who later pushed for the ANC to abandon the armed struggle was the chief architect of the same, becoming not only its first commander-in-chief but also its first trained soldier too.

He believed in action and led by example, both by getting military training and becoming the chief volunteer during the defiance campaign. But at the core of all this militancy was always a desire to get the white colonial regime to come to the table and talk.

So for him, even the armed struggle was not to win victory in the field, but to shake the system in such a way that it would want to talk. It was an ambitious project and with a succession of staunch racists such as Hendrik Verwoerd, John Vorster and PW Botha at the helm of the National Party, prison looked more and more like a final home."

'via Blog this'

Winnie recalls final moments with Madiba

Winnie recalls final moments with Madiba - Nelson Mandela | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "Winnie Madikizela-Mandela says she feels “very blessed” to have been with ex-husband Nelson Mandela when he died, describing how she sat by his bedside until he drew his last breath.

She told Britain's ITV news in an interview broadcast on Thursday that there is a “heavy feeling” surrounding her ex-husband's passing, saying “one never prepares for death”.

She told the broadcaster that the most difficult moment of the past week was when the military came to remove Mandela's body and she realised “he was leaving the house for good”.

She also described her pain at seeing him lying in state, saying that “it's very hard for the family to even share him even in his death after sharing with the whole world and our whole country while he was alive”"

'via Blog this'

Madiba death pic a hoax - Gauteng | IOL News | IOL.co.za

Madiba death pic a hoax - Gauteng | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "A Twitter picture of Nelson Mandela, purportedly showing the statesman lying in state, has been revealed as a fake.

The Department of State Security confirmed on Thursday that the photograph of Mandela’s body was a hoax.

The photo also bears a strong resemblance to an AFP photo taken of Mandela in July 1991 when he was closing his eyes at an ANC party congress in Durban.

On Thursday, @AFP tweeted: “the Photo of 'dead' Mandela is actually #AFP image of him closing his eyes at ANC conference in Durban in July 1991”

Spokeswoman Phumla Williams said the government found it “extremely” distasteful that a member of the public would manipulate a photograph of Mandela at this time."

'via Blog this'

‘Mandela wanted SA to be free of corruption’ - Nelson Mandela | IOL News | IOL.co.za

‘Mandela wanted SA to be free of corruption’ - Nelson Mandela | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "South Africa has failed to live up to the vision of former president Nelson Mandela, his friend and lawyer George Bizos said on Thursday.

“We have failed to live up to the vision of Mandela,” said Bizos. “We have failed materially in many respects.”

Bizos was speaking at a celebration and memorial for Mandela at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

He said Mandela had a vision of a country that was to be free of poverty and corruption, and never wanted the country to be a “one man” state.

However, Bizos said he was angered to hear people who said that little had changed since the country gained its democracy years ago.

He said, looking at the audience and the students of Wits, that change was evident. The Wits Great Hall was packed to capacity with people of different races for the memorial."

'via Blog this'

Final public viewing of Madiba underway - Gauteng | IOL News | IOL.co.za

Final public viewing of Madiba underway - Gauteng | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "The coffin of former president Nelson Mandela has been placed in position for the third and final day in which his body will lie in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday.

Stark silence marked the moment as military personnel stood to attention, along with ordinary South Africans queuing for their chance to pay their final respects.

A military band played the national anthem shortly after the hearse carrying the coffin arrived.

Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, who had been travelling in the hearse, stood on the side and softly mouthed the words to the anthem as the band played.

Mandla, dressed in black, has accompanied the body every day since Wednesday.

According to AbaThembu tradition, a male adult family member must remain with the body until burial.

Military officials then removed the coffin from the hearse and carried it to the structure in which it was laid for public viewing.

Helicopters circled above as mounted police officers arrived."

'via Blog this'

Mandela’s dress sense, humour remembered

Mandela’s dress sense, humour remembered - Gauteng | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "Former president Nelson Mandela was one of the best dressed students during his time at the University of the Witwatersrand, his friend and advocate George Bizos said on Thursday.

'I remember Nelson Mandela as tall, handsome and the best dressed student always,” said Bizos.

“I don't know where he got the money from.”

He said Mandela was always in a suit and wore shiny shoes.

He was speaking at Mandela's celebration event held at the university."

'via Blog this'

Govt welcomes social media condemnation of Mandela pics

Govt welcomes social media condemnation of Mandela pics | News | National | Mail & Guardian: "Government has applauded social media activity denouncing the circulation of pictures showing Nelson Mandela lying in state at the Union Buildings.

Spokesperson Phumla Williams said in a statement on Thursday that government was aware of "social media activity" around the existence of a picture of former president Nelson Mandela ​lying in state at the Union Buildings.

"Government welcomes the way in which people on social platforms are expressing their disappointment and outrage at any circulation of such photographs," she said.

"If this content exists, government calls on people not to view it and to delete it from their [social media] timelines."

There are no plans to release official photographs of Mandela, she said.

"Government is respecting the [Mandela] family's wish that no photographs of [former] president Mandela's body be released," spokesperson Phumla Williams said in a statement."

'via Blog this'

No plans to release Madiba pics

No plans to release Madiba pics - Nelson Mandela | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "There are no plans to release official photographs of former president Nelson Mandela lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the government said on Thursday.

“Government is respecting the (Mandela) family's wish that no photographs of (former) president Mandela's body be released,” spokeswoman Phumla Williams said in a statement.

“With regard to mourners filing past the casket, government repeats the caution that no photography is allowed, as this would violate the military protocol governing proceedings at the Union Buildings.”"

'via Blog this'

The saddest goodbye

The saddest goodbye - Gauteng | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "It started with President Jacob Zuma, the first citizen to pay his respects as Nelson Mandela lay in state at the Union Buildings on Wednesday.

He stood there for a while, looking at Madiba through the clear-topped casket, and bowed his head.

Then Graça Machel and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela followed.

Both in black.

Both with their hair covered.

Both physically leaning on aides for support.

Machel looked at the face in that casket for a long time, her hand resting in the casing.

As she walked out, she wiped away tears."

'via Blog this'

Memorial sign language ‘fake’ blames illness

Sign language ‘fake’ blames illness - Gauteng | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "The man who has been blasted on social networks and accused of providing “fake” sign language interpretation at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service says he suffered a schizophrenic episode.

Thamsanqa Jantjie said his schizophrenia, for which he takes medication, has not only left many people angry and accusing him of being an impostor, but it was also the reason he was medically boarded a few years ago, resulting in him having to rely on a social grant now.

He doesn’t know whether it was the magnitude of what he was doing or the happiness he felt throughout the day that might have triggered the attack while on stage.

Suddenly he lost concentration, and started hearing voices and hallucinating.

Afterwards, it all went downhill and he just signed things that didn’t make sense."

'via Blog this'

Cape’s joyful farewell to Madiba

Cape’s joyful farewell to Madiba - Western Cape | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "The Nelson Mandela Tribute has been hailed as among the best concerts yet staged at Cape Town Stadium.

First it was the fan walk again, but named the remembrance walk, with thousands walking to the Cape Town Stadium to pay tribute to democratic South Africa’s founding president on Wednesday.

No vuvuzelas or painted faces, but many Madiba T-shirts in all shapes, sizes and colours, just as there were people in all shapes, sizes and colours.

Cool drink sellers were doing a brisk trade as thousands packed into the stadium. Some held newspaper posters with Madiba’s smiling face. Some sported ANC T-shirts, and others rosettes bearing Madiba’s face.

As the crowd waited for the performers on stage, music blasted through the speakers, photographs of Madiba flashed on giant screens and there was one Mexican wave after another. Then the deep opening notes of Shosholoza boomed out and the crowd stood up and sang, their raised arms swaying to the beat."

'via Blog this'

Thousands queue to view Madiba

Thousands queue to view Madiba - Gauteng | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "A winding queue formed outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria as people gathered to view the body of former president Nelson Mandela lying in state on Wednesday.

The queue was growing rapidly as members of the Tshwane metro police directed it.

Some people used umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun.

Political party T-shirts of the ANC and Agang SA were in evidence.

Tshepiso Matema said she had travelled from Soweto “to see history being made”.

“There is no other place to be besides the Union Buildings today, in the whole South Africa. We want to see our old man,” said Matema."

'via Blog this'