­­­­14 December 2013

Fellow South Africans
Ladies and gentlemen of the media

Earlier today the body of our beloved former President Nelson Mandela returned to his home at Qunu in the Eastern Cape where he will be laid to rest tomorrow, Sunday 15 December 2013.

The former President’s body was received at Mthatha in the Eastern Cape with full military and ceremonial honours by the South African National Defence Force which leads the State Funeral.

14 December 2013

Live television feeds to public tribute and mourning areas around Qunu where former President Nelson Mandela will be buried tomorrow, will give thousands of people a chance to share this event with fellow citizens.

Television will also make it possible for people in other parts of the country and the world to follow Tata Madiba’s final journey to his resting place on the family farm in Qunu.

13 December 2013

(NOTE TO EDITORS: This factsheet provides a little more detail that supports the State Funeral update given by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters at Mthatha at 18h00 today on behalf of the Inter-Ministerial Committee coordinating the State Funeral of former President Nelson Mandela. Two maps showing Mthatha road closures and traffic diversions in the region around Qunu are provided that will also be posted on www.mandela.gov.za and www.gov.za )

13 December 2013

Around 100 000 people, including VVIPs and VIPs, viewed the body of the late President Nelson Mandela during the three days he lay in state at the Union Buildings from Wednesday 11 December to Friday 13 December 2013.

A government update at 18h00 gave the figure as “at least 70 000”. This was based on estimates that were made earlier in the afternoon.

The latest estimate is that close to 100 000 paid their last respects to Tata Madiba at the Union Buildings in the course of three days.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: The original version of this statement referred to an opportunity for people in the Eastern Cape to be part of the State Funeral events on Saturday. This should have read “Sunday”. This update now correctly refers to “Sunday”. Please accept GCIS’s sincerest apology.)

13 December 2013

The passing away of President Nelson Mandela has united South Africans in dignified mourning and celebration.

13 December 2013

President Nelson Mandela will receive an official send off from the Waterkloof Military Airforce Base in Pretoria  on Saturday, 14 December 2013.

The military will hand over the remains of President Nelson Mandela to the ruling party at 07h00.  The military will again take over at 09h00 for the send-off ceremony and departure from Waterkloof Airforce Base.

13 December 2013

Pretoria – As the third and final day of the public viewing draws to a close, government confirms that about 100 000 people paid homage to President Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The third day closed with over 50000 paying their respects to our national icon and first democratically elected President of our country.

Media are advised that Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) Ministers will brief the media on the State Funeral of former President Nelson Mandela.

The details are as follows:

Date: Friday, 13 December 2013
Time: 18h00
Venue: Nelson Mandela Museum, Qunu

Enquiries:

Bongiwe Gambu
Cell: 082 714 9463
Brian Dube
Cell: 082 418 3389

Issued by Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

13 December 2013

1. The full rehearsal of the procession will start today at 13:00 and the  road from the airport R61 – Sutherland Road-York Street-Mandela Drive – N2 to Qunu will be closed.  Sections will be opened as soon as the convey has passed through. This will also be the case on Saturday from 13:00 again.
2. The following roads closures /diversions will be in place from today at 21:00 :

  Travelling to Mthatha from Kokstad/Durban:

13 December 2013

Government is grateful to all the people of South Africa who have come out in their numbers, some travelling from other provinces, to bid farewell to President Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings.
 
The response has been overwhelming and heartwarming with 12000-14000 paying homage to Tata Madiba on day one with two people passing every three seconds on day two.
 
As at 07h30 this morning Friday 13 December, there were thousands of people at the various park and ride facilities: