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Mandela death: 'Day of prayer' in South Africa Mandela death: 'Day of prayer' in South Africa
(about 2 hours later)
People in South Africa are taking part in a day of "prayer and reflection" for late President Nelson Mandela. People in South Africa are taking part in a day of prayer and reflection for Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday.
President Jacob Zuma will attend a service in a Methodist church in Johannesburg, with other multi-faith services planned throughout the day. President Jacob Zuma is attending a service in a Methodist church in Johannesburg, with other multi-faith services planned throughout the day.
A national memorial service will be held on Tuesday, ahead of a state funeral on 15 December. At the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto, priest Sebastian Roussouw said the late president had been "a light in the darkness".
South Africans have been holding vigils since Mr Mandela died on Thursday at the age of 95. A national memorial service is due to be held on Tuesday.
President Jacob Zuma urged South Africans to go to stadiums, halls, churches, and other places of worship on Sunday to remember their former leader. Mr Mandela will be given a state funeral on 15 December.
South Africans have been holding vigils since Mr Mandela died at home the age of 95, after several months of ill health.
President Jacob Zuma had urged South Africans to go to stadiums, halls, churches, and other places of worship on Sunday to remember their former leader.
"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. Let us sing for Madiba," he said, using Mr Mandela's 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. Let us sing for Madiba," he said, using Mr Mandela's clan name.
In Sunday's service at the Regina Mundi Church - which acted as a vital meeting place during the apartheid era - Father Sebastian praised Mr Mandela for his "humility and forgiveness".
"Madiba did not doubt the light. He paved the way for a better future, but he cannot do it alone," he said.
In Cape Town, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said Mr Mandela was a powerful and continuing reminder that individuals do have the power to make change happen in the world.
Mr Mandela's successor as president, Thabo Mbeki, will attend a service at the Oxford Shul synagogue in Johannesburg in the afternoon.Mr Mandela's successor as president, Thabo Mbeki, will attend a service at the Oxford Shul synagogue in Johannesburg in the afternoon.
Other senior politicians and ANC officials will go to services across the city, and the country. Other senior politicians and ANC officials are attending services across the country, in what correspondents say it an attempt to involve more scattered communities.
Although crowds have already been out in many towns and cities, the government and the ANC want to make more scattered communities feel more intimately involved, the BBC's James Robbins reports from Johannesburg.
'Guard of honour''Guard of honour'
The focal points for public remembrance have so far been Mr Mandela's house in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton and his old home in Soweto, with mourners lighting candles and laying thousands of wreaths of flowers. The focal points for public remembrance have so far been Mr Mandela's house in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton and his old home in Soweto, where mourners have lit candles and laid thousands of wreaths of flowers.
Mr Mandela's body will lie in state on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the heart of the South African government in Pretoria. Mr Mandela's body will lie in state on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the heart of the South African government in Pretoria, before his funeral on Sunday.
Members of the public have been encouraged to line the route and form a "guard of honour" when his remains are taken to the site. His body will be taken each day from the mortuary to the city hall through the streets of Pretoria.
A funeral cortege bearing his body is to travel through the streets of Pretoria for three consecutive days before his burial next Sunday. Members of the public have been encouraged to line the route and form a "guard of honour".
On Saturday it was announced that US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will attend Tuesday's memorial service, along with three other former US presidents, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. The government has also given further details of the state funeral arrangements.
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will attend Tuesday's memorial service, along with three other former US presidents, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
One government minister has predicted the 95,000-seat stadium being used for the event will be overwhelmed, and promised that overflow areas would be set up.One government minister has predicted the 95,000-seat stadium being used for the event will be overwhelmed, and promised that overflow areas would be set up.
On Saturday his family gave their first public statement since his death, describing the difficulty of the past two days and the week ahead.
Family spokesman Lt Gen Matanzima likened the late president to a baobab tree that had provided shade and protection to the Mandela family.
Announcing further details of the state funeral arrangements on Saturday, the government said that the late president's body was being prepared by the military health service before it lay in state.
Qunu is where Mr Mandela grew up and later retired to.
Flags at all official buildings are to remain at half mast throughout the period and books of condolence are being circulated across the country and online for people to post tributes, record memories and express their emotions.Flags at all official buildings are to remain at half mast throughout the period and books of condolence are being circulated across the country and online for people to post tributes, record memories and express their emotions.
A government statement recalled the former president's own thoughts when asked how he wished to be remembered.A government statement recalled the former president's own thoughts when asked how he wished to be remembered.
"It would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered," Mr Mandela said."It would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered," Mr Mandela said.
"I'd leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, 'Mandela'.""I'd leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, 'Mandela'."
Tributes to Mr Mandela have come from leaders, celebrities and members of the public around the world. In their first public statement, on Saturday, the Mr Mandela's family likening him to a baobab tree that had provided shade and protection.
US President Barack Obama said Mr Mandela "achieved more than could be expected of any man".
Pope Francis said Mr Mandela had forged "a new South Africa built on the firm foundations of non-violence, reconciliation and truth".
The former South African leader spent 27 years in jail before becoming the country's first black president in 1994.The former South African leader spent 27 years in jail before becoming the country's first black president in 1994.
He served a single term before stepping down in 1999.He served a single term before stepping down in 1999.
Mr Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with FW de Klerk, South Africa's last white president.Mr Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with FW de Klerk, South Africa's last white president.
He suffered repeated bouts of ill health and since September had been receiving treatment at home for a recurring lung illness.
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