FNB Stadium. Picture: SOWETAN
FNB Stadium. Picture: SOWETAN

LARGE numbers of people are expected to attend the national memorial service for late president Nelson Mandela at the FNB Stadium near Soweto on Tuesday.

Three overflow venues — Ellis Park and the Orlando and Dobsonville stadiums — will be open to mourners who cannot be accommodated at the main stadium, the City of Johannesburg said on Sunday.

The memorial service will be broadcast live, starting on Tuesday at 11am.

The government has arranged for free public transport and park-and-ride facilities to accommodate mourners.

The city warned that no cars would be allowed near the FNB Stadium and that roads around the venue would be closed from midnight on Monday, with a "total shutdown" from early Tuesday morning.

"Mourners are urged to choose at which stadium they want to attend the national memorial service and take heed of the details ... and plan their trips accordingly," the city said. "Entrance to FNB Stadium is on a first-come, first-served basis."

Once it is full, mourners will be directed to other stadiums, and should listen to local radio stations and follow social media channels.

Stadiums will open a 7am on Tuesday, with parking venues and bus services operating from 6am.

The city warned that normal bus services offered by Rea Vaya, Metrobus and Putco in and around Johannesburg could be disrupted.

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FNB STADIUM

The city on Sunday released details of bus and rail services to the FNB Stadium. It said mourners would be able to:

• travel by Metrorail from all major stations in Gauteng (hourly trains);

• travel by Gautrain to Park Station, and transfer to Metrorail to FNB Stadium;

• walk from the surrounding areas to the stadium; or

• use the special Rea Vaya BRT service.

The Rea Vaya BRT service will operate:

• from Ellis Park East Rea Vaya station via Beyers Naudé Square Westbound Rea Vaya station, and Westgate Rea Vaya station to FNB/Stadium Soccer City Rea Vaya station; and

• from University of Johannesburg Sophiatown Rea Vaya station via Soweto Highway to Nasrec North Rea Vaya station.

Mourners will also be able to drive to a park-and-ride site and travel by Rea Vaya BRT or bus to the stadium.

Park-and-ride sites are:

• Standard Bank, entrance at 1 Simmonds Street, Johannesburg central business district (CBD);

• open parking next to Rea Vaya Westgate station, entrance in Anderson Street, CBD;

• University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus;

• Gold Reef City (casino), entrance in Northern Parkway, Ormonde; and,

• Apartheid Museum, entrance in Northern Parkway, Ormonde.

The city urged those planning to use these services to watch the press for updates.

ELLIS PARK

On getting to Ellis Park Stadium, it said this could be done by:

• travelling by Metrorail from Park Station to Ellis Park;

• walking from the nearby areas of Hillbrow, Yeoville, Bertrams and Troyeville; or,

• walking from the University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, entrance in Beit Street, Doornfontein.

The public can also use a special Rea Vaya BRT service that will operate from:

• Westgate Rea Vaya station via Beyers Naudé Square; and

• Braamfontein (Joburg Theatre and Conhill Rea Vaya stations) to Ellis Park North Rea Vaya station.

Alternatively, they can drive to a park-and-ride site and travel by Rea Vaya BRT or bus to the stadium.

Park-and-ride sites are:

• Constitution Hill, entrance in Joubert Street, Braamfontein;

• Metro Centre, entrance in Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein;

• Thuso House, entrance in Stiemens Street, Braamfontein;

• University of the Witwatersrand, West Campus;

• Bez Valley Park, entrance in Marcia Street, Observatory; and,

• Absa Towers, entrance in Main Street, CBD.

ORLANDO STADIUM

Those wanting to travel to Orlando Stadium can:

• travel by Metrorail from Vereeniging and Naledi stations;

• walk from the nearby areas of Mlamlankunzi, Orlando West and Orlando East;

• drive to the park-and-ride at either Northgate or Westbank, Enterprise Road (off Beyers Naudé Drive), Fairland, and catch a bus to Orlando Stadium; or,

• catch a marked Putco bus from Protea Glen, Merafe, Molopo, Bara/Diepkloof, Chiawelo, Mapetla, Dube or Meadowlands.

DOBSONVILLE STADIUM

Options for getting to Dobsonville Stadium are:

• walking from the nearby areas of Tshepisong, Bramfischerville and Mfolo; or

• catching a marked Putco bus from Emdeni, Naledi, Dobsonville, Orange Farm, Silvertown or Bramfischerville.

More details and updates are available at www.joburg.org.za.

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Provincial memorial services

In addition, the ANC said on Sunday, a series of provincial memorial services this week will be addressed by party leaders:

• Free State: December 11 2013, Free State Stadium, 10am

• North West: December 12 2013, James Motlatsi Stadium, Tlokwe, 11am

• Mpumalanga: December 12 2013, Mpumalanga Stadium, Msukaligwa (Ermelo), 10am

• Western Cape: December 13 2013, Delft Sports Stadium, Cape Town, 6pm

• Eastern Cape: December 13 2013, Nelson Mandela Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay, time TBC

• KwaZulu-Natal: December 13 2013, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, time TBC

• Northern Cape: December 13 2013, Kimberley, 10am

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