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| South Africans Prepare for Days of Mourning and Commemoration | South Africans Prepare for Days of Mourning and Commemoration |
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| JOHANNESBURG — The rainbow nation that Nelson Mandela fought so hard for decades to make a reality turned out in droves at his home here on Saturday to pay tribute to South Africa’s departed leader. | JOHANNESBURG — The rainbow nation that Nelson Mandela fought so hard for decades to make a reality turned out in droves at his home here on Saturday to pay tribute to South Africa’s departed leader. |
| Old women who vividly recalled the struggle against apartheid, toddlers born after Mr. Mandela retreated from the public eye, Jews and Muslims, Christians and Hare Krishna disciples — all flocked to the house in the upscale neighborhood of Houghton with flowers, candles and even hand-painted portraits of the former president. | Old women who vividly recalled the struggle against apartheid, toddlers born after Mr. Mandela retreated from the public eye, Jews and Muslims, Christians and Hare Krishna disciples — all flocked to the house in the upscale neighborhood of Houghton with flowers, candles and even hand-painted portraits of the former president. |
| Jenny Hoggarth of Johannesburg said the mood reminded her of the country’s 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 country’s 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 young girl had begun to weep. Ms. Hoggarth patted her gently on a shoulder and said, “I feel like crying, too.” | |
| After days of vigils, celebrations and prayers following Mr. Mandela’s death on Thursday night at age 95, South African leaders prepared for a week of more formal commemorations, which will culminate in a state funeral next Sunday in the small rural village that was Mr. Mandela’s childhood home. | |
| According to a schedule published Friday by President Jacob G. Zuma on an official government website, the days leading up to the state funeral will be punctuated by reflection and prayer on Sunday; a national memorial service in an 80,000-capacity soccer stadium on Tuesday; and a three-day period, starting on Wednesday, for Mr. Mandela’s body to lie in state at the Union Buildings, the formal seat of presidential power, in Pretoria. | |
| The White House said Saturday that President Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, would attend the memorial service on Tuesday. Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, along with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, will travel to South Africa on Air Force One as Mr. Obama’s guests. | |
| Former President Jimmy Carter will attend as well, according to his spokeswoman, but the first President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, will not. | Former President Jimmy Carter will attend as well, according to his spokeswoman, but the first President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, will not. |
| With elections scheduled for April, Mr. Zuma has urged South Africans to focus on the preparations for the funeral. | With elections scheduled for April, Mr. Zuma has urged South Africans to focus on the preparations for the funeral. |
| Mr. Mandela’s family broke its silence after his death with a statement read by a spokesman, Lt. Gen. Themba Templeton Matanzima, saying it had “not been easy” in recent days and referring to Mr. Mandela’s long years behind bars. “The pillar of the family is gone, just as he was away for the 27 painful years of imprisonment,” the statement said, adding that his “spirit endures.” | Mr. Mandela’s family broke its silence after his death with a statement read by a spokesman, Lt. Gen. Themba Templeton Matanzima, saying it had “not been easy” in recent days and referring to Mr. Mandela’s long years behind bars. “The pillar of the family is gone, just as he was away for the 27 painful years of imprisonment,” the statement said, adding that his “spirit endures.” |
| On Saturday, the South African government said that Mr. Mandela’s body would be taken to the Union Buildings from a military hospital in a public procession spanning three days, and that the route would be announced in advance so the public could witness it. | On Saturday, the South African government said that Mr. Mandela’s body would be taken to the Union Buildings from a military hospital in a public procession spanning three days, and that the route would be announced in advance so the public could witness it. |
| The memorial schedule made clear 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 memorial schedule made clear 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 schedule 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 schedule said. “Roads immediately surrounding the Union Buildings will be closed.” |
| People wishing to view the coffin will have to report to one of two central venues to be shuttled to the Union Buildings, Collins Chabane, a government minister in the president’s office, said in a statement. He said hundreds of other events would be held in provinces and towns away from the centers of government. | People wishing to view the coffin will have to report to one of two central venues to be shuttled to the Union Buildings, Collins Chabane, a government minister in the president’s office, said in a statement. He said hundreds of other events would be held in provinces and towns away from the centers of government. |
| The arrangements were 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 with logistical challenges of a different order as they work to ferry dignitaries to the grave site. | The arrangements were 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 with logistical challenges of a different order as they work to ferry dignitaries to the grave site. |
| According to the memorial schedule, the South African military will be in charge of the final transfer of the body when it is flown to the Eastern Cape from an air force base in Pretoria. When it arrives at the airport in the small town of Mthatha, the schedule said, “a military guard of honor will welcome the mortal remains, which will be draped in the national flag.” | According to the memorial schedule, the South African military will be in charge of the final transfer of the body when it is flown to the Eastern Cape from an air force base in Pretoria. When it arrives at the airport in the small town of Mthatha, the schedule said, “a military guard of honor will welcome the mortal remains, which will be draped in the national flag.” |
| The state airline will provide charter flights to take mourners there, news reports said. | The state airline will provide 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, which has been observed since 1994, after the end of apartheid. For South Africans across the racial spectrum, it is laden with associations from earlier times in the country’s tortured history. | The day after the funeral is a public holiday in South Africa known as the Day of Reconciliation, which has been observed since 1994, after the end of apartheid. For South Africans across the racial spectrum, it is laden with associations from earlier times in the country’s tortured history. |
| In a statement on Saturday, Mr. Zuma said he would attend a Methodist church service in Johannesburg on Sunday. He repeated his call “to all to go to stadiums, halls, churches, temples or synagogues” to celebrate Mr. Mandela’s life. | In a statement on Saturday, Mr. Zuma said he would attend a Methodist church service in Johannesburg on Sunday. He repeated his 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. | “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,” he added, referring to Mr. Mandela by his widely used clan name. “Let us sing for Madiba.” | “Let us celebrate Madiba in this way, which we know best,” he added, referring to Mr. Mandela by his widely used clan name. “Let us sing for Madiba.” |
| 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 in. Among the most recent, published in Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald newspaper on Saturday, is an encomium from President Robert G. Mugabe of Zimbabwe, 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, is an encomium from President Robert G. Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who called Mr. Mandela “the great icon of African liberation.” |
| The praise masked Mr. Mugabe’s uneasy relationship with Mr. Mandela, who spoke in 2008 of a “tragic failure of leadership” in Zimbabwe as the economy there fell into a tailspin and political violence seized the land. | The praise masked Mr. Mugabe’s uneasy relationship with Mr. Mandela, who spoke in 2008 of a “tragic failure of leadership” in Zimbabwe as the economy there fell 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.” |
| One of the mourners at Mr. Mandela’s home in Houghton, Vusi Ntuli, 34, said he and his family had come from Pretoria on Thursday night after the announcement of Mr. Mandela’s death, and had taken part in the informal observances on Friday and Saturday. He said he would also travel to Qunu for the burial. | One of the mourners at Mr. Mandela’s home in Houghton, Vusi Ntuli, 34, said he and his family had come from Pretoria on Thursday night after the announcement of Mr. Mandela’s death, and had taken part in the informal observances on Friday and Saturday. He said he would also travel to Qunu for the burial. |
| “This man has done so much and deserves to be followed,” Mr. Ntuli said. “As you can see when you look around, this really is a rainbow nation, with people from all different walks of life.” | “This man has done so much and deserves to be followed,” Mr. Ntuli said. “As you can see when you look around, this really is a rainbow nation, with people from all different walks of life.” |
Nicholas Kulish reported from Johannesburg, and Alan Cowell from London. Lydia Polgreen contributed reporting from Johannesburg, and Michael D. Shear from Washington. | Nicholas Kulish reported from Johannesburg, and Alan Cowell from London. Lydia Polgreen contributed reporting from Johannesburg, and Michael D. Shear from Washington. |