Sombre mood hangs over SA

The Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre where Madiba's body will lie in state. Image: Gauteng Conference Centre

The weather remains overcast as people start gathering to witness the cortege, led by members of the SA Police Service.

Mandela's body will proceeded to the Union Buildings under heavy police guard for members of the public to view where his remains will lie in state at the Union Buildings from Wednesday, 11 December, until Friday, 13 December. The cortege will leave the hospital at 07:00 every day.

The cortege of the late President will depart from 1 Military Hospital and move onto Old Pretoria Road towards the City, where it will join Kgosi Mampuru Road until the intersection of Madiba Street, where it proceeds in an easterly direction towards the Union Buildings.

Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre

Members of the public are urged to line the routes and form a public guard of honour for Madiba. Mandela's body will be placed in the Amphitheatre, renamed the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre by President Jacob Zuma at the memorial service held at the FNB stadium.

The Amphitheatre is where Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected President of South Africa 1994.

The procession at the Union Buildings is expected to be led by the Presidency and the Mandela family, followed by Cabinet, Heads of State, and the Gauteng government delegation.

The government delegation will comprise the Executive of the Province, its legislature (MPLs), metro councillors, districts and local councillors, and top senior officials from provinces and municipalities.

The Mandela family and VIPs will view the body between 10:00 and 12:00 and members of the public will be allowed to view the body after that. No accreditation is required and anyone wanted to view Mandela's remains is welcome to do so.

A view of Pretoria from the Union Buildings. Image:RAsburry Patch

On Thursday and Friday, the public will be able to view Mandela's remains anytime between 08:00 and 17:30.

Due to the anticipated increase of private vehicles, the City of Tshwane is offering park and ride facilities for the public leaving from the Tshwane Events Centre, LC De Villiers Sports Facility in Hatfield and Fountains Valley Park. Members of the public are urged to use these services, as access to the body will be limited to people travelling on city buses.

Street vendors have been told that no trading will be allowed on the designated roads used by the cortege for the next three days. Moreover, shop owners along these routes are also advised to temporarily close shops, given the large number of people expected to line the streets.

The city will host a memorial service at Lucas Moripe "Masterpieces" stadium on Thursday (12 December) from 14:00 to honour Mandela.