10 days of national mourning for former President Nelson Mandela

Tuesday, 10 December 2013: Official memorial service

This is the day on which members of the public, VIPs and VVIPs, will attend an official memorial service at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg. A number of visiting heads of state and government will attend this event. Government is in the process of briefing the diplomatic corps to facilitate the attendance of visiting leaders. This will give ordinary people and public leaders an opportunity to celebrate Madiba's life collectively.

Government is requesting provincial authorities to coordinate provincial activities and help secure transport for mourners wishing to attend the memorial service. The following roads and interchanges near the venue will be closed and controlled by law enforcement agencies:

• N1 and Rand Show Road

• N1 and Soweto Highway
• N1 and 17
• N1 and Nasrec off-ramp
• Greenwood Rd and Booysens Reserve

• Nasrec and Main Reef Roads

Wednesday, 11 December to Friday 13 December: Lying-in-state

South Africans and selected international visitors and guests will be able to view President Mandela's remains at the Union Buildings for three days from Wednesday, 11 December.

President Mandela's remains will be transported daily between 1 Military Hospital, Thaba Tshwane, and the Union Buildings. Details of this route and times will be provided in due course. Government invites mourners to line this route and form a public guard of honour for Tata Madiba when the remains are transported.

Away from the memorial route, members of the public wishing to pay their final respects will be shuttled to the Union Buildings from two central venues in Tshwane that will be announced in due course. Only mourners who report to these venues will be allowed to visit the Union Buildings and view the remains.

Saturday 14 December 2013: Focus on the Eastern Cape

On Saturday, 14 December, the former President's remains will be transported to the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria, where the ANC will bid Madiba farewell. Also on this day, a procession will take place from Mthatha to Qunu where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony.

Sunday, 15 December 2013: State Funeral, Qunu

On Sunday, 15 December, a funeral service and interment ceremony will take place at President Mandela's home and final resting place at Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

Distance viewing

The public is advised that all the venues; Mandela Houses, FNB Stadium, Union Buildings and all other venues will be cordoned off and accessed will be controlled. Most of the key events will be broadcast live on television, throughout this period and mourners around the country and the world will therefore be able to follow these events day by day.

A number of public viewing areas are being established at various points around the country to allow as many people as possible to follow and witness these historic occasions.

Condolence Books, in which people can record their tributes, are available at municipal, provincial and other government offices around the country and South Africa's diplomatic missions abroad. Information about condolence book sites can be obtained from the offices of Premiers in the provinces and from local government offices. Details of these sites are also being posted on national, provincial and municipal websites as well as social media accounts of government.

For more information, go to www.thepresidency.gov.za.

Cape Town events

Nelson Mandela: A Life Celebrated - Wednesday 11 December 2013

Cape Town will host a commemorative event at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday 11 December 2013 to serve as the city's memorial service to honour the life of Nelson Mandela. Members of the public are encouraged to attend this event to mark Cape Town's own tribute to Madiba.

The event starts at 4pm and gates will open at 2pm. Prominent local acts will perform and a potential international artist. Details will be confirmed closer to the time.

In order to maintain order and safety, the city will have a coupon system in place to regulate entry to the stadium. A maximum of five coupons are available per person, free of charge, on presentation of a valid ID or passport.

These coupons can be collected via Computicket or at any Shoprite outlet across Cape Town. This coupon allows free access to public transport in the form of the MyCiTi bus service, Golden Arrow Bus Services and Metrorail into and out of the city.

In addition to the main event above, the City will host the following events:

• Screening of national memorial service - Tuesday 10 December 2013 - the City of Cape Town will screen the national memorial service on the Grand Parade so that all residents can come together to mourn Tata Madiba.

• Remembrance evening in Atlantis - Thursday 12 December 2013 - members of the public are invited to gather at Wesfleur in Atlantis for an evening of remembrance from 7pm onwards
• Night Vigil - Saturday 14 December 2013 - on the eve of Madiba's funeral, residents will be able to gather for a night vigil on the Grand Parade from 5pm.

• Screening of national funeral - Sunday 15 December 2013 - the national funeral service in Qunu will be screened for Capetonians on the Grand Parade on 15 December 2013.

Throughout the mourning period, members of the public may leave flowers and write messages in books of remembrance, available at the Civic Centre and on Grand Parade. In addition, all those who wish to leave online dedications are encouraged to do so at www.capetown.gov.za/nelsonmandela.

Media accreditation

The City of Cape Town has set up a dedicated media centre for all accredited journalists at the City Hall on the Grand Parade in Darling Street. Media can obtain accreditation at the City Library/Drill Hall on Buitenkant Street near the City Hall, between 9am and 2pm daily. From here, they will be directed to the Media Centre in City Hall.

For more information go to www.capetown.gov.za/nelsonmandela, follow the City on Twitter @CityofCT or Facebook www.facebook.com/CityofCT.

KwaZulu-Natal mourning arrangements

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu and the KwaZulu-Natal government will host a Provincial Memorial Service for President Nelson Mandela at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday 13 December 2013 at 9am.

There will also be public viewing areas where communities can watch the National Memorial service on Tuesday 10 December 2013, which will be broadcast live from FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. These are: