Programme for Mandela commemoration released

• 4 December: Launch of the In Tribute to Nelson Mandela exhibition at the Foundation's Centre of Memory, 107 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg from 17:30 onwards as well as the launch of the online Madiba Tributes App. The virtual app can be found on the Foundation's new look responsive website: www.nelsonmandela.org that is filled with information on the life and times of Mandela, his contribution to the country and the world, and his legacy.

• 5 December:

- 5am Inter-faith prayer service and veterans wreath laying at the Union Buildings, Pretoria
- 9am Freedom Park commemoration, tributes and international call to action
- Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, will lead an international call to action for schools, community centres, places of worship, and individuals to ring bells and sirens, use instruments, vuvuzelas and loudhailers at 9:56am, followed by a period of silence from 10am until 10:03am in tribute to Madiba at Freedom Park in Pretoria. The South African National Anthem will then be sung wherever people are gathering. The time lapse from the ringing of the bells to the end of the moment of silence is 6 minutes, 7 seconds and is symbolic of the 67 years Madiba spent in the service of humanity.
- 3pm - The Mandela Legacy Cup public tribute event - Proteas vs Springboks - held at the Bidvest Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg. The Proteas will play against the Springboks in a friendly cricket match with special performances from Johnny Clegg and Prime Circle, and public team signings to honour Madiba

• 6 December: Artists in Tribute to Madiba: 09:30am to 12:30pm - poets, writers, performers and musicians open session led by Professor Njabulo Ndebele, Chairman of the Nelson Mandela Foundation at the Foundation's Centre of Memory, 107 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg.

• 7 December: National Bikers for Madiba (#BigRoarForMadiba) breakfast run. Bikers are encouraged to dedicate their Sunday breakfast runs nationwide to Madiba and support the Mandela Day Leadership for Literacy Book Drive.

• 12 December: Comedians in Tribute to Madiba: 5-7:30pm at the Foundation's Centre of Memory, 107 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg.

• 13 December: Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk - registration is still open and forms can be accessed on the departmental website on www.sacr.gpg.gov.za

• 14 December: The inaugural Tshwane City Marathon, with the "last mile" in honour of Madiba - go to www.tshwanecitymarathon.co.za

Other initiatives, including the launch of the Foundation's new and unique exhibition, the nationwide Mandela Day Literacy for Leadership Book Drive and the virtual tribute digital app in recognition of South Africa's first democratically elected President, will all contribute towards building on Madiba's legacy and marks our collective responsibility as active citizens to live his legacy.

Multimedia exhibition

The Foundation has curated a selection of the messages and contributions received from people across the world following Madiba's passing in a special multimedia exhibition experience titled In Tribute to Nelson Mandela, which will be on display at the Foundation's Centre of Memory in Houghton, Johannesburg, from 4 December until the end of February 2015. Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, together with Chairman of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Professor Njabulo Ndebele, Mandela family members and key partners of the Foundation including the SABC, Telkom, AVAAZ and Edcon will officially open the exhibition.

The gun carriage that carried Madiba's coffin will also be on display as the SANDF's poignant military tribute of Madiba. Members of the public are free to visit the Foundation's Centre of Memory from 9am-4pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm on weekends to reflect on and experience Madiba's life and times. This includes exhibitions viewings, multimedia experiences, public tribute boards etc.

For more information, go to www.nelsonmandela.org.