On the 5 December President Jacob Zuma announced that the former President had died. Mandela passed away at 20:50, in the presence of his family and loved ones. The country’s sprit stifled in sorrow as it went into a period of mourning which lasted for about ten days; flags were flown at half-mast in concert. From the second the story broke that Mandela had died until he was finally laid to rest in his birth place at Qunu, the Mandela’s and South Africa at large became the focus of the world. Global media networks rushed to South Africa like a swarm of bees to cover the story from the beginning till the end. In essence of the 10 day mourning for Madiba, SABC paid tribute to Tata by launching a website which consisted of a book of condolences, my Madiba moments, my Madiba memories, my Madiba prayers, and Madiba kids. The wounded nation of South Africa held separate memorial services and concerts at stadiums in different provinces, in memory of the beloved father of the nation. The day after the tragic ordeal, President Jacob Zuma announced that a national memorial service would be held at the FNB stadium for Tata and that Madiba’s body would lie in the state for three days. On 8 December President Jacob Zuma asked South African to reflect, meditate and pray in what the government termed as a national day of prayer for the respected former statesman. The day of the memorial which took place in on the 10th of December numerous world leaders, sitting and former presidents as well as international delegations converged at the FNB Stadium for a memorial service which was broadcasted internationally. From the 11 – 13 of December the former President’s body laid in state at the Union Buildings and South Africans from all walks of life bore the snaking queues, the scorching sun and summer rains, to pay their last respects to Tata. The iconic statesman’s body was flown in a C-130 from the Waterkloof Air Force Base to Mthatha Airport and he was laid to rest on 15 December 2013 in a private family burial ground in Qunu. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was given a fitting state funeral with all the honours. On 16 December which marks the National Day of Reconciliation, a 9 metre towering statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled at the Union Buildings. Click here to visit the Mandela Website.
– By
