BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron, President Jacob Zuma and Nelson Mandela’s widow, Graca Machel, were among the first VIPs to reach Johannesburg’s rain-soaked FNB Stadium on Tuesday, as world leaders and South Africans found their seats for the official memorial service for the late president.
Ms Machel made her first public appearance since the death of her husband last week as she arrived at his memorial service, dressed in a black turban and furry coat over a long black dress. Two women on either side linked their arms with her as she moved slowly ahead, her expression sombre.
Former president Thabo Mbeki was greeted by wild applause when he was ushered onto the stage, only matched by the applause for Cuban President Raul Castro. Following his release from prison, Mandela famously told those who criticised him for his close friendship with Cuba and Libya to go and “jump into a pool”.
Mr Zuma's arrival on the podium sparked a mixed response, with many in the audience booing him. He has been embroiled in several scandals since before he assumed the presidency, most recently involving the R206m spent on his private estate at Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, known not to have liked Mandela, also arrived at the stadium, just ahead of the playing of the national anthem as the service finally began.
Braving rain and unseasonably cold weather, thousands of ordinary people also entered the 94,000-seat stadium to honour Mandela, who died on Thursday night at the age of 95.
People clad in woolly clothes covered by plastic refuge bags against the rain, and wearing African National Congress (ANC) regalia, gathered from the early hours of Tuesday.
Celebrities such as U2 lead singer and activist Bono and South African Hollywood star Charlize Theron rubbed shoulders with South African activists such as Jay Naidoo, founder leader of the Congress of Trade South African Unions (Cosatu), and suspended Cosatu chief Zwelinzima Vavi. Mr Naidoo had walked to the stadium.
Former UK leader John Major, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan also arrived at the stadium.
US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle; former US president George W Bush and his wife, Laura; and former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton were attending the service, as were former US presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
Mr Obama was to be among the speakers at Tuesday’s memorial. The US leader missed out on meeting Mandela earlier this year on a visit to South Africa when Mandela was in hospital.
The crowd roared as Mandela’s former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela arrived.
Andrew Mlangeni, 87, Mandela’s prison neighbour on Robben Island, also arrived. He was scheduled to speak at the memorial.
Mr Mlangeni said earlier this week that he would “forever cherish the 26 years we spent on Robben Island together as neighbours in our prison cells, having discussions, arguments or sharing ideas”.
In depth: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918- 2013
News and views on the death, and life, of former president Nelson Mandela, with tributes and photographsSinging and dancing
Radio stations and Twitter reported glitches with public transport laid on to ferry mourners to the stadium. Despite this, there was a festive mood at the mass gathering, with the crowds in the stadium and on public transport singing and dancing.
Groups of mourners marched between the seats of the stadium, singing struggle songs. Others took refuge from the rain amid the covered seating on the top tiers and sang in tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
"UMandela lo, abamaziyo, abakaze bambone (This is Mandela, the one who is known, they’ve never seen anyone like him)," they chanted.
Mandela died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg. He is to be buried in his Eastern Cape home town, Qunu, on Sunday.
"No amount of bad weather could stop me from paying my respects to president Mandela," said Pule Ngoako, from Modimolle in Limpopo. "He suffered for my freedom.... It is sad to accept that this day and other days to come in my life will be without Mandela."
A large stage was erected on one side of the stadium pitch, with a separate, smaller stage to the left of it. There were flowers on both stages.
Military helicopters flying overhead were greeted by a roar from the crowd. Groups of soldiers and security officials in reflector vests continued to line the aisles of the vast arena.
"We are talking about Madiba here, so there is no margin for error," police spokesman Zweli Mnisi said of the security measures put in place.
More than 90 heads of state, plus dignitaries and celebrities, were expected to attend Tuesday’s proceedings, scheduled to start at 11am.
Paying their respects
Mr Cameron said he had come to the memorial on behalf of the British people, who felt very connected to South Africa and its struggle towards democracy. "I thought it was very important to pay my respects ... to such a brilliant man."
The British prime minister smiled as he recalled a meeting he had with Mandela, when the statesman visited London. "I took my children, including my disabled son Ivan, and Madiba was so kind and sweet to them. I got a picture of them, and that is a picture I will treasure for the rest of my life."
Tshepo Moeketsi, from Magaliesburg, said he just had to attend. "How do you pay back a man like Madiba? No amount of money can pay his love for his people. I had to be here to pay my respect and thank Tata for what he had done for us."
Among the songs being sung in the stadium were Shosholoza, Nelson Mandela My President, Nelson Mandela ga go ya Tshwanang le Ena (Nelson Mandela There Is No One Like Him), Agenda ya Makapitali Asiyifune ya Bulala u Madiba (Agenda of Capitalists, We Do Not Want It, It Killed Madiba), and Johnny Clegg’s Asimbonanga.
Other stadiums
Meanwhile, at Ellis Park stadium — one of the designated overflow venues for Tuesday’s proceedings, stands were mostly empty by 10am save for a few hundred people.
A boisterous group of about 40 people dressed in white Mandela shirts managed to dodge security and run onto the pitch for a celebratory lap, loudly singing and dancing his praises.
In Soweto, Orlando Stadium also opened its gates for mourners but was not yet full by 11.30am. Some Gauteng officials were at the stadium, including community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko.
Mourners, undeterred by the rainy weather, sang struggle song tributes to Mandela. Some were dressed in ANC shirts, blankets and other items.
Elton John, a plumber from Orlando West, said his employer, Sasmere Plumbing, was closed for the day and he chose to come to the stadium close to his home to remember Mandela.
“There really is not much to say. Bab’ Mandela was the kind of person that lived to help everyone. It was only right to come here and honour him the best way I can,” Mr John said.
Jerome Mokoena, an employee of freight forwarding business UTI South Africa, said he came during his time of leave from work to pay his respects.
“I am here to show my love to a man who was the answer to our prayers. I am also here to show moral support to the family and South Africa because while we are mourning I think it’s also a time to celebrate,” Mr Mokoena said.
Franny Rabkin, Setumo Stone, Khulekani Magubane, Colleen Goko, with Sapa
