PARK-and-ride services to take people to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to view Nelson Mandela’s body were cancelled by mid-morning on Friday.
"The park-and-ride facilities are full and closing now," said government communications chief policy and research director Tasneem Carrim just before 11am.
She said officials would do their utmost to accommodate people already at the Union Buildings for the third and final day in which the former president’s body would lie in state, but added, "there are just so many hours in a day".
Ms Carrim said estimates suggested two people were viewing the body every three seconds, but it appeared the lines were moving even faster on Friday.
By 7.30am, 25,000 people had gathered at the Pretoria Showgrounds, 10,000 at the Fountains Valley Circle, 8,000 at the Union Buildings and 7,000 at the LC de Villiers Sports Centre.
Themba Losi from the Eastern Cape said he had been waiting in the long queue on Stanza Bopape Street since Friday morning.
“If I don’t get to see him it would be very disappointing but I must respect the families’ wishes,” Mr Losi said.
Further down on Hamilton Street, Abisai Mushaikwa from Mamelodi said he was optimistic that he would make it into the amphitheatre and see his hero.
“Don’t tell me I won’t be able to go in. This is my hero. I will go in, I’m sure,” Mr Mushaikwa said.
People waiting in queues got into heated exchanges with police officers when they were told at 1pm that the last day of viewing would be ending soon.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame viewed Mandela’s body early on Friday morning and US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson made another appearance on Friday after he viewed the body on Thursday.
The streets of Pretoria had an atmosphere of celebration as a queue of thousands of well-wishers and mourners gathered for their last chance to see the statesman.
Joe Shikhibane, an external examiner for Tshwane University of Technology, said he was happy to get the opportunity to pay tribute to Mandela, the same man who inspired him to pursue his own academic goals.
"I just saw him and I feel much better. I have now accepted the fact that he is gone. He is important to me because when he came out of jail back in 1990, we went to see him and he told us all to go to school and continue learning.
"It was at that moment that I made a decision to study further. I studied at the University of Free State and Fort Hare. I have travelled to so many places like Japan, Beijing and Spain. Not only that, I have also taken on his fatherly spirit and have looked after seven orphans in my lifetime," he said.
Mr Shikhibane, wearing an African National Congress (ANC) cap and blanket, did not mince his words regarding the current government, saying that Mandela left big shoes for South African and ANC leaders to fill.
"Government must learn some hard lessons for this nation to produce another leader like Mandela. The young people of this country must study. I wouldn’t necessarily say vote for the ANC specifically. I would encourage people to vote for any leader who promotes and holds Mandela’s legacy dear. That has to be a person who thinks of the people first and not money," he said.
Raphaahla Nkosi from Steelpoort in Limpopo said she had waited a long time in the queue. With a bible and small South African flag in hand, Ms Nkosi was visibly excited after seeing Mandela’s body.
"I came on Wednesday but I was late and ended up not seeing (him). I came yesterday (Thursday) and waited all day. Still, I never saw him. But I finally saw him today. He has taught me to have all the fruits of the spirit. This moment is a symbol which will allow me to start afresh in my own life and continue his legacy in my own small way," Ms Nkosi said.
Mandela died in his Houghton home on December 5, after a long illness, at the age of 95. Leaders from around the world attended an official memorial service in Madiba’s honour on Tuesday at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.
President Jacob Zuma is due to unveil the bronze statue of the elder statesman on Monday.
With Sapa
Women react after paying their respects to former South African president Nelson Mandela on the last day of Mandela's lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday. Picture: REUTERS
PARK-and-ride services to take people to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to view Nelson Mandela’s body were cancelled by mid-morning on Friday.
"The park-and-ride facilities are full and closing now," said government communications chief policy and research director Tasneem Carrim just before 11am.
She said officials would do their utmost to accommodate people already at the Union Buildings for the third and final day in which the former president’s body would lie in state, but added, "there are just so many hours in a day".
Ms Carrim said estimates suggested two people were viewing the body every three seconds, but it appeared the lines were moving even faster on Friday.
By 7.30am, 25,000 people had gathered at the Pretoria Showgrounds, 10,000 at the Fountains Valley Circle, 8,000 at the Union Buildings and 7,000 at the LC de Villiers Sports Centre.
Themba Losi from the Eastern Cape said he had been waiting in the long queue on Stanza Bopape Street since Friday morning.
“If I don’t get to see him it would be very disappointing but I must respect the families’ wishes,” Mr Losi said.
Further down on Hamilton Street, Abisai Mushaikwa from Mamelodi said he was optimistic that he would make it into the amphitheatre and see his hero.
“Don’t tell me I won’t be able to go in. This is my hero. I will go in, I’m sure,” Mr Mushaikwa said.
People waiting in queues got into heated exchanges with police officers when they were told at 1pm that the last day of viewing would be ending soon.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame viewed Mandela’s body early on Friday morning and US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson made another appearance on Friday after he viewed the body on Thursday.
The streets of Pretoria had an atmosphere of celebration as a queue of thousands of well-wishers and mourners gathered for their last chance to see the statesman.
Joe Shikhibane, an external examiner for Tshwane University of Technology, said he was happy to get the opportunity to pay tribute to Mandela, the same man who inspired him to pursue his own academic goals.
"I just saw him and I feel much better. I have now accepted the fact that he is gone. He is important to me because when he came out of jail back in 1990, we went to see him and he told us all to go to school and continue learning.
"It was at that moment that I made a decision to study further. I studied at the University of Free State and Fort Hare. I have travelled to so many places like Japan, Beijing and Spain. Not only that, I have also taken on his fatherly spirit and have looked after seven orphans in my lifetime," he said.
Mr Shikhibane, wearing an African National Congress (ANC) cap and blanket, did not mince his words regarding the current government, saying that Mandela left big shoes for South African and ANC leaders to fill.
"Government must learn some hard lessons for this nation to produce another leader like Mandela. The young people of this country must study. I wouldn’t necessarily say vote for the ANC specifically. I would encourage people to vote for any leader who promotes and holds Mandela’s legacy dear. That has to be a person who thinks of the people first and not money," he said.
Raphaahla Nkosi from Steelpoort in Limpopo said she had waited a long time in the queue. With a bible and small South African flag in hand, Ms Nkosi was visibly excited after seeing Mandela’s body.
"I came on Wednesday but I was late and ended up not seeing (him). I came yesterday (Thursday) and waited all day. Still, I never saw him. But I finally saw him today. He has taught me to have all the fruits of the spirit. This moment is a symbol which will allow me to start afresh in my own life and continue his legacy in my own small way," Ms Nkosi said.
Mandela died in his Houghton home on December 5, after a long illness, at the age of 95. Leaders from around the world attended an official memorial service in Madiba’s honour on Tuesday at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.
President Jacob Zuma is due to unveil the bronze statue of the elder statesman on Monday.
With Sapa
