12,000 SANDF personnel deployed for funeral

(Image: GCIS)

The Presidency said the SANDF members will work in co-operation with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to maintain law and order during the State Funeral of the former President.

"The deployment is for a period of 15 days commencing on 6 December to 20 December 2013," the Presidency said in a statement on Friday.

Madiba's body will be flown to the Eastern Cape on Saturday, ahead of the State Funeral on Sunday.

Workers have completed erecting the giant white marquee at Mandela's family farm in Qunu where the official funeral of the late statesman will take place.

On Thursday, family spokesperson Bantu Holomisa said the rain did not stop service providers, who have been at the site since Sunday to ensure that the funeral venue is ready by Saturday.

"I can tell you now that the stage is complete and everything is ready for Sunday. At the moment, we are just awaiting for safety engineers to inspect the tent and issue a safety certificate.

"We are hoping that the weather can clear today or tomorrow but we are happy with the work on the ground."

Massive tent to house dignitaries

Workers, who are using a crane to put together the structure, were seen testing sound equipment and levelling the ground.

The marquee, which is expected to accommodate more than 4,000 dignitaries and guests, is overlooking the Mandela residence situated along the N2 road from Mthatha to East London.

A few metres away is a family graveyard where Mandela will be laid to rest. When the weather started to clear on Thursday afternoon, workers continued to work on the grave site.

Security is tight around the residence, with police and military personnel searching every vehicle that enters the funeral venue.

No journalists will be allowed to film funeral proceedings straight from the venue. Instead, a media centre situated at the Nelson Mandela Museum will be opened to journalists. The museum is about 500m from where the funeral proceedings will be taking place.

Parts of the N2 that run adjacent to the house remained cordoned off, and traffic was being diverted.

Even foreign journalists who had booked accommodation in the houses opposite the Mandela residence were being denied access to the houses. Some had to get letters from a local chief confirming their stay there.