CROWDS of people gathered on the lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday to pay tribute to former president Nelson Mandela, many wearing the black, green and gold colours of the African National Congress (ANC).
A few metres up the hilly Union Building grounds, Mandela’s remains were laid out for public viewing.
Navy and army personnel surrounded a large marquee draped in white cloth. Mandela’s body lay in a half-open coffin, dressed in one of his trademark Madiba shirts in black and gold.
Tempers flared as some people waited as long as an hour to enter and view the face of the elder statesman for just a few seconds.
The viewing started early for high-profile guests on the cloudy but hot morning. There was little singing among the Pretoria crowd, unlike at the memorial service at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday, where it rained all day.
The Mandela family and guests including international statesmen were expected to conclude their viewing by midday, after which the public would be given a chance to pay their respects.
At the corner of Stanza Bopape and Hamilton streets, a block away from the Union Buildings, hawkers sold ANC merchandise and T-shirts bearing Mandela’s face.
In depth: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918- 2013
News and views on the death, and life, of former president Nelson Mandela, with tributes and photographsThe only vehicles visible in front of the Union Buildings lawns were those of the police and emergency services.
More people could be seen walking up Stanza Bopape Street, formerly known as Church Street, towards the lawns. While buses were laid on to transport people from two park-and-ride locations — Fountains Valley and the Pretoria Showgrounds — some preferred to walk.
At least two buses were turned back to their starting place in Fountains Valley. The driver of one bus said this was because the passengers were not "marked". However, those on board did not seem to care and carried on singing struggle songs.
While it was not immediately clear, the marking seemed to be part of security controls. A metro police official said those arriving in buses had to be marked before they could enter the Union Buildings.
A police officer also said that those waiting outside the Union Buildings lawns had to be taken either to Fountains Valley or the Pretoria Showgrounds, where they would be marked.
Thousands of people stood in a long queue twisting across the large parking area at the Pretoria Showgrounds, in scenes reminiscent of the first democratic elections in 1994.
Some people had slept outside the main gate and some were sitting down in small groups. There were three queues, one reserved for the elderly.
William Daniels, 65, of Danville in Pretoria, arrived at the showgrounds just after 1pm. "I’m tired," he said, "but I have no option ... I’m inspired by the way he struggled and suffered for us."
Mr Daniels said it would not be right not to pay Mandela his respects.
Molebatsi Rakubu, 28, said he got to the showgrounds at 9am. He said he struggled to find someone to keep his cellphone safe, as those who wished to see Mandela were not allowed to carry mobile electronic devices. He eventually gave the phone to a colleague.
By 1.30pm, Mr Rakubu was among those boarding the bus to the Union Buildings.
The public are allowed to view the body from noon on Wednesday until 5pm. On Thursday and Friday, the body can be viewed from 8am to 5pm.
"The City of Tshwane has activated park-and-ride facilities for the public ... Mourners are advised that cameras, including cellphones, will not be allowed at the Union Buildings," the Government Communication and Information System said in a statement.
Mandela, the first president of democratic South Africa in 1994, died last Thursday at his family home in Houghton, Johannesburg.
After lying in state for three days, his body will be taken to the Eastern Cape where the elder statesman will be laid to rest in the village of Qunu on Sunday.
With Khulekani Magubane
