This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25375582
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Mandela goodbye for ANC members ahead of state funeral | Mandela goodbye for ANC members ahead of state funeral |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Members of the African National Congress have been paying final tributes to Nelson Mandela at a ceremony ahead of Sunday's funeral. | Members of the African National Congress have been paying final tributes to Nelson Mandela at a ceremony ahead of Sunday's funeral. |
| President Jacob Zuma and other ANC leaders attended the event, which included a multi-faith service and a musical tribute. | President Jacob Zuma and other ANC leaders attended the event, which included a multi-faith service and a musical tribute. |
| Afterwards, Mr Mandela's coffin will be taken by air and road to his ancestral home at Qunu, in the Eastern Cape. | Afterwards, Mr Mandela's coffin will be taken by air and road to his ancestral home at Qunu, in the Eastern Cape. |
| It will be accompanied by family members and officials. | It will be accompanied by family members and officials. |
| At least 100,000 people saw the former South African president's body lying in state in Pretoria over the last three days, but some had to be turned away. | At least 100,000 people saw the former South African president's body lying in state in Pretoria over the last three days, but some had to be turned away. |
| The 95-year-old former leader died on 5 December. | The 95-year-old former leader died on 5 December. |
| 'Exuberant' | |
| More than 1,000 members of the ANC, which Mr Mandela once led, attended the ceremony at the Waterkloof air base in Pretoria. | More than 1,000 members of the ANC, which Mr Mandela once led, attended the ceremony at the Waterkloof air base in Pretoria. |
| US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson and Ireland's Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams were among the foreign guests invited. | US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson and Ireland's Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams were among the foreign guests invited. |
| Mourners heard President Zuma pay his own tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling him a "towering figure", "a man of action" and a "democrat who understood the world." | Mourners heard President Zuma pay his own tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling him a "towering figure", "a man of action" and a "democrat who understood the world." |
| "Yes, we will miss him... He was our father, he was our guardian. He was something special." | "Yes, we will miss him... He was our father, he was our guardian. He was something special." |
| "We'll always keep you in our hearts," Mr Zuma said. | "We'll always keep you in our hearts," Mr Zuma said. |
| After the ceremony the coffin will be flown to Mthatha airport in the Eastern Cape ahead of the burial in Qunu. | After the ceremony the coffin will be flown to Mthatha airport in the Eastern Cape ahead of the burial in Qunu. |
| Chief mourners from Mandela's Thembu clan and family, as well as senior government officials, would accompany the coffin, army officials said. | Chief mourners from Mandela's Thembu clan and family, as well as senior government officials, would accompany the coffin, army officials said. |
| However his widow Graca Machel, and former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, will travel on a separate flight, in accordance with Thembu tradition. | However his widow Graca Machel, and former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, will travel on a separate flight, in accordance with Thembu tradition. |
| A military guard of honour will welcome the flight in Mthatha, and the coffin will be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse. | A military guard of honour will welcome the flight in Mthatha, and the coffin will be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse. |
| People have been invited to form a human chain to pay their last respects as the cortege makes its way to Qunu. | People have been invited to form a human chain to pay their last respects as the cortege makes its way to Qunu. |
| In Qunu, the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony in a giant white marquee that has been specially erected. | In Qunu, the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony in a giant white marquee that has been specially erected. |
| Some 4,000 people, including presidents from Africa, several prime ministers, the Iranian vice-president, and the Prince of Wales, are expected to attend. | Some 4,000 people, including presidents from Africa, several prime ministers, the Iranian vice-president, and the Prince of Wales, are expected to attend. |
| On Friday, the South African government said in a statement that "the third day closed with over 50,000 paying their respects to our national icon and first democratically elected president of our country". | On Friday, the South African government said in a statement that "the third day closed with over 50,000 paying their respects to our national icon and first democratically elected president of our country". |
| Shortly before the lying in state came to an end, at 17:45 local time (15:45 GMT), hundreds of people towards the front of the queue pushed through in the hope to be one of the last through the door. | Shortly before the lying in state came to an end, at 17:45 local time (15:45 GMT), hundreds of people towards the front of the queue pushed through in the hope to be one of the last through the door. |
| One police officer told the AFP news agency: "There are too many people. The whole of the Republic of South Africa wants to say goodbye." | One police officer told the AFP news agency: "There are too many people. The whole of the Republic of South Africa wants to say goodbye." |
| Many people waited in the queue for 11 hours for the chance to see Nelson Mandela's body. | Many people waited in the queue for 11 hours for the chance to see Nelson Mandela's body. |
| Some were angry more time had not been allowed for this ceremonial; others said even if they could not reach his coffin for a personal farewell it was enough simply to be there. | Some were angry more time had not been allowed for this ceremonial; others said even if they could not reach his coffin for a personal farewell it was enough simply to be there. |
| Correspondents who visited the coffin said Mr Mandela's body could be seen through a glass screen, dressed in one of his trademark patterned shirts. | Correspondents who visited the coffin said Mr Mandela's body could be seen through a glass screen, dressed in one of his trademark patterned shirts. |
| At each end of the casket stood two navy officers clad in white uniforms, with their swords pointing down. | At each end of the casket stood two navy officers clad in white uniforms, with their swords pointing down. |
| A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings. | A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings. |
| On Tuesday, tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service as part of a series of commemorations for Mr Mandela. | On Tuesday, tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service as part of a series of commemorations for Mr Mandela. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |