Mandela’s body to lie in state at Union Buildings

World Leaders at FNB Stadium for Mandela’s Memorial Service.

The body of the late former South African President and freedom Icon, Nelson Mandela is due to be taken in procession to the Union Buildings in Pretoria where it will lie in state for three days.

Each morning his remains will be transported across the city in a glass casket.

People have been encouraged to line the route and form a “guard of honour” for the fallen African hero.

The public, as well as invited heads of state and international guests, will be able to view Mandela’s body at the Union Buildings.

The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral. On Tuesday, tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service held at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

At the Memorial Service, US president Barack Obama described Mandela as a “giant of history”, and the last great liberator of the 20th Century.

“We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. While I will always fall short of Madiba (Mr Mandela’s clan name), he makes me want to be a better man,” Obama added.

Procession

Mr Mandela’s remains will be transported daily from the city’s 1 Military Hospital to the Union Buildings from Wednesday until Friday, the government has announced.

“The public are encouraged to form a guard of honour by lining the streets,” it said. 

The procession will leave the mortuary at about 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday and travel along Kgosi Mampuru Street and Madiba Street.

The Union Buildings are the official seat of the South African government. It is where Mr Mandela was sworn in as the country’s first black president in 1994.

At the memorial service on Tuesday, the current South African President, Jacob Zuma, announced he was renaming the Union Buildings the Mandela Amphitheatre.

The Mandela family and selected VIP visitors will be able to view the body from 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Members of the public can file past the casket from 12:00 to 17:30.

The public will then be able to view the body from 08:00 to 17:30 on Thursday and Friday.