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'