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South Africans Prepare for Days of Mandela Commemoration South Africans Prepare for Days of Mandela Commemoration
(35 minutes later)
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 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 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 as hundreds of visitor Mr. Mandela’s home in the upscale neighborhood of Houghton to pay their respects, leaving flowers, lighting candles and singing. Some held up hand-painted portraits of the departed leader. The government also offered its most detailed program of the funeral arrangements as hundreds of people visited Mr. Mandela’s home in the upscale neighborhood of Houghton to pay their respects, leaving flowers, lighting candles and singing. Some held up hand-painted portraits of the late leader.
Jenny Hoggarth of Johannesburg said the mood reminded her of the first post-apartheid elections in 1994. “It’s sad but I feel a lot of love,” she said. “He’s old. We knew it had to come even if we didn’t want it to.” Jenny Hoggarth of Johannesburg said the mood reminded her of the first post-apartheid elections in 1994. “It’s sad, but I feel a lot of love,” she said. “He’s old. We knew it had to come, even if we didn’t want it to.”
Beside her a little girl had begun to weep. Ms. Hoggarth patted her gently on the shoulder and said, “I feel like crying too.” Beside her, a little girl had begun to weep. Ms. Hoggarth patted her gently on the shoulder and said, “I feel like crying, too.”
The moment drew people from many backgrounds, faiths, races and affiliations. Two men in yarmulkes walked alongside a man with long dreadlocks as they passed a circle of singing, drumming Hare Krishna disciples. The moment drew people from many backgrounds, faiths, races and affiliations. Two men in skullcaps walked alongside a man with long dreadlocks as they passed a circle of singing, drumming Hare Krishna disciples.
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 Friday by President Jacob G. Zuma, the days leading to the state funeral, on Dec. 15, will be punctuated by 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 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.”
On Saturday, the government said that Mr. Mandela’s body would be taken to the Union Buildings from a military hospitalin a public procession on three successive days passing along a route that would be announced in advance so that the public could witness the processions. On Saturday, the government said that Mr. Mandela’s body would be taken to the Union Buildings from a military hospital in a public procession on three successive days, passing along a route that would be announced in advance so that the public could witness it.
It made clear, however, that people filing past the coffin would be subject to tight controls to ensure that the process was “dignified and orderly” with cameras and cell phones forbidden. It made clear, however, that people filing past the coffin would be subject to tight controls to ensure that the process was “dignified and orderly,” with cameras and cellphones forbidden.
“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.”
People wishing to view the coffins would have to report to “two central venues” to be “shuttled” to the Union Buildings, said Collins Chabane, a government minister in the president’s office. He said “hundreds” of other events wold be held in provinces and local comunities away from the centers of government. People wishing to view the coffins would have to report to “two central venues” to be “shuttled” to the Union Buildings, said Collins Chabane, a government minister in the president’s office. He said “hundreds” of other events would be held in provinces and local communities away from the centers of government.
The arrangements seemed designed to offer ordinary South Africans some 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 some 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 would be in charge of the final transfer of the body when it was flown from an air force base in Pretoria to the Eastern Cape. When the body arriveds 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 would be in charge of the final transfer of the body when it was flown from an air force base in Pretoria to the Eastern Cape. When the body arrives 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 from earlier times in South Africa’s tortured history. 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 from earlier times in the country’s tortured history.
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 in, 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.

Lydia Polgreen contributed reporting from Johannesburg.