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| South Africans Prepare for Days of Mandela Commemoration | South Africans Prepare for Days of Mandela Commemoration |
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| JOHANNESBURG — After vigils, celebration and prayer lasting into Saturday following the death of Nelson Mandela, South African leaders prepared for days of more formal commemorations culminating in a state funeral next Sunday on a grand and untested scale in the small rural village that was Mr. Mandela’s childhood home. | JOHANNESBURG — After vigils, celebration and prayer lasting into Saturday following the death of Nelson Mandela, South African leaders prepared for days of more formal commemorations culminating in a state funeral next Sunday on a grand and untested scale in the small rural village that was Mr. Mandela’s childhood home. |
| The government also offered its most detailed program of the funeral arrangements. | The government also offered its most detailed program of the funeral arrangements. |
| The White House said on Friday that President Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, would visit South Africa next week “to participate in memorial events.” | The White House said on Friday that President Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, would visit South Africa next week “to participate in memorial events.” |
| According to a schedule published by President Jacob G. Zuma, the days leading to the state funeral, on Dec. 15, will be punctuated by a day of reflection and prayer this Sunday, a national memorial in an 80,000-capacity soccer stadium on Tuesday and a three-day period for Mr. Mandela’s body to lie in state at the Union Buildings — the formal seat of presidential power — in Pretoria starting on Wednesday. | According to a schedule published by President Jacob G. Zuma, the days leading to the state funeral, on Dec. 15, will be punctuated by a day of reflection and prayer this Sunday, a national memorial in an 80,000-capacity soccer stadium on Tuesday and a three-day period for Mr. Mandela’s body to lie in state at the Union Buildings — the formal seat of presidential power — in Pretoria starting on Wednesday. |
| The government said on Saturday that the body would be taken to the Union Buildings in a public procession along a route that would be announced in advance. It made clear, however, that people filing past the coffin would be subject to controls to ensure that the process was “dignified and orderly.” | |
| “The security forces will control access to the Union Buildings and facilitate the file past process,” the statement said. “Roads immediately surrounding the Union Buildings will be closed.” | “The security forces will control access to the Union Buildings and facilitate the file past process,” the statement said. “Roads immediately surrounding the Union Buildings will be closed.” |
| The arrangements seemed designed to offer ordinary South Africans access to a momentous period in their modern history. But the state funeral in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape region, will present the authorities logistical challenges of a different order to ferry dignitaries to the graveside. | The arrangements seemed designed to offer ordinary South Africans access to a momentous period in their modern history. But the state funeral in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape region, will present the authorities logistical challenges of a different order to ferry dignitaries to the graveside. |
| The government statement said the South African military will be in charge of the final transfer of the body when it is flown from an air force base in Pretoria to the Eastern Cape. On the arrival of the body at the airport in the small town of Umtata, the statement said, “a military guard of honor will welcome the mortal remains, which will be draped in the national flag.” | The government statement said the South African military will be in charge of the final transfer of the body when it is flown from an air force base in Pretoria to the Eastern Cape. On the arrival of the body at the airport in the small town of Umtata, the statement said, “a military guard of honor will welcome the mortal remains, which will be draped in the national flag.” |
| The state airline is providing charter flights to take mourners there, news reports said. | The state airline is providing charter flights to take mourners there, news reports said. |
| The day after the funeral is a public holiday in South Africa known as the Day of Reconciliation. It began in 1994, after the end of apartheid, and is laden with associations for South Africans across the racial spectrum. | The day after the funeral is a public holiday in South Africa known as the Day of Reconciliation. It began in 1994, after the end of apartheid, and is laden with associations for South Africans across the racial spectrum. |
| In a separate statement on Saturday, Mr. Zuma said he would attend a Methodist church service in Johannesburg this Sunday, and he repeated a call “to all to go to stadiums, halls, churches, temples or synagogues” to celebrate Mr. Mandela’s life. | In a separate statement on Saturday, Mr. Zuma said he would attend a Methodist church service in Johannesburg this Sunday, and he repeated a call “to all to go to stadiums, halls, churches, temples or synagogues” to celebrate Mr. Mandela’s life. |
| “We should, while mourning, also sing at the top of our voices, dance and do whatever we want to do, to celebrate the life of this outstanding revolutionary who kept the spirit of freedom alive and led us to a new society,” Mr. Zuma said. “As South Africans, we sing when we are happy and we also sing when we are sad to make ourselves feel better. Let us celebrate Madiba in this way, which we know best. Let us sing for Madiba,” he added, referring to Mr. Mandela by his widely used clan name. | “We should, while mourning, also sing at the top of our voices, dance and do whatever we want to do, to celebrate the life of this outstanding revolutionary who kept the spirit of freedom alive and led us to a new society,” Mr. Zuma said. “As South Africans, we sing when we are happy and we also sing when we are sad to make ourselves feel better. Let us celebrate Madiba in this way, which we know best. Let us sing for Madiba,” he added, referring to Mr. Mandela by his widely used clan name. |
| Mr. Zuma quoted Mr. Mandela as saying it “would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered. I’d leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, ‘Mandela.'” | Mr. Zuma quoted Mr. Mandela as saying it “would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered. I’d leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, ‘Mandela.'” |
| Since Mr. Mandela’s death was announced on Thursday, tributes have poured into South Africa, among the most recent, published in Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald newspaper on Saturday, an encomium from President Robert G. Mugabe, who called Mr. Mandela “the great icon of African liberation.” | Since Mr. Mandela’s death was announced on Thursday, tributes have poured into South Africa, among the most recent, published in Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald newspaper on Saturday, an encomium from President Robert G. Mugabe, who called Mr. Mandela “the great icon of African liberation.” |
| The praise masked a not-always-easy relationship with Mr. Mandela, who had spoken of a “tragic failure of leadership” in Zimbabwe in 2008 as the economy there plunged into a tailspin and political violence seized the land. | The praise masked a not-always-easy relationship with Mr. Mandela, who had spoken of a “tragic failure of leadership” in Zimbabwe in 2008 as the economy there plunged into a tailspin and political violence seized the land. |
| In a letter to Mr. Zuma on Friday, The Herald reported, Mr. Mugabe said: “Mr. Nelson Mandela’s renowned and illustrious political life will forever remain a beacon of excellence. Not only was he a great champion of the emancipation of the oppressed, but he also was a humble and compassionate leader who showed selfless dedication to the service of his people.” | In a letter to Mr. Zuma on Friday, The Herald reported, Mr. Mugabe said: “Mr. Nelson Mandela’s renowned and illustrious political life will forever remain a beacon of excellence. Not only was he a great champion of the emancipation of the oppressed, but he also was a humble and compassionate leader who showed selfless dedication to the service of his people.” |
| Since Mr. Mandela’s death, South Africans have gathered at his former home in Soweto and his more recent residence in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton to pay tribute. In Soweto, crowds danced and children ran through the streets. In Houghton, people laid flowers and danced there, too. | Since Mr. Mandela’s death, South Africans have gathered at his former home in Soweto and his more recent residence in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton to pay tribute. In Soweto, crowds danced and children ran through the streets. In Houghton, people laid flowers and danced there, too. |
| People of all races joined the blend of mourning and celebration in a way that seemed increasingly unusual as South Africa confronts a struggling economy, allegations of high-level corruption and a more prevalent sense that the promise evoked by Mr. Mandela’s emergence from 27 years in prison in 1990 is dissipating rapidly. | People of all races joined the blend of mourning and celebration in a way that seemed increasingly unusual as South Africa confronts a struggling economy, allegations of high-level corruption and a more prevalent sense that the promise evoked by Mr. Mandela’s emergence from 27 years in prison in 1990 is dissipating rapidly. |
| With elections due in April, Mr. Zuma has urged South Africans to focus on the preparations for the funeral. “We should all work together to organize the most befitting funeral for this outstanding son of our country and the father of our young nation,” he said on Friday. | With elections due in April, Mr. Zuma has urged South Africans to focus on the preparations for the funeral. “We should all work together to organize the most befitting funeral for this outstanding son of our country and the father of our young nation,” he said on Friday. |