Some wrapped in thick blankets and coats to ward off the cold, others with the African National Congress (ANC) flag draped around their shoulders, mourners sang struggle songs and began to toyi-toyi in honour of the fallen icon.
Mourners laid flowers, cards and candles near the gate as sombre police officers looked on. A military helicopter also hovered above.
Among those gathered were young children who were accompanying their parents. “Mandela has freed our generation. If it wasn’t for him we would be living in a country where people are separated, just like our parents did,” said Lacy Gibbet (14).
Annah Ngoasheng (13) accompanied her parents to Mandela’s house after hearing about his death.
“My parents have told me about what Mandela has done for our country and I had to be here to pay my respects to him,” she said.
Members of the Mandela family, ANC leaders including President Jacob Zuma and General Secretary Gwede Mantashe, were seen entering the home earlier. Shortly before 3am, a convoy of dozens of cars and an ambulance exited.
As it drove off, the convoy was joined by cars which had been parked in the street. Defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula got into the back of one of the departing cars.
CNN is reporting that the body is being transferred to a military hospital in Pretoria where it will be embalmed.
The only family members confirmed absent at this time are daughters Zindzi and Zenani Mandela, who were attending the UK premier of Mandela: Long walk to freedom at the Odeon Leicester Square in London last night.
According to reports, Zindzi and Zenani were informed of Mandela’s death while they were still at their hotel before the start of the screening, but insisted the event should continue.
Zuma made the announcement shortly before 12am. “He passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 20.50pm on December 5,” he said.
“He is now resting, he is now at peace. Our nation has lost its greatest son.”
Friday, 6 December 2013
Hundreds of people have gathered outside the Houghton home of the late former president Nelson Mandela
Some wrapped in thick blankets and coats to ward off the cold, others with the African National Congress (ANC) flag draped around their shoulders, mourners sang struggle songs and began to toyi-toyi in honour of the fallen icon.
Mourners laid flowers, cards and candles near the gate as sombre police officers looked on. A military helicopter also hovered above.
Among those gathered were young children who were accompanying their parents. “Mandela has freed our generation. If it wasn’t for him we would be living in a country where people are separated, just like our parents did,” said Lacy Gibbet (14).
Annah Ngoasheng (13) accompanied her parents to Mandela’s house after hearing about his death.
“My parents have told me about what Mandela has done for our country and I had to be here to pay my respects to him,” she said.
Members of the Mandela family, ANC leaders including President Jacob Zuma and General Secretary Gwede Mantashe, were seen entering the home earlier. Shortly before 3am, a convoy of dozens of cars and an ambulance exited.
As it drove off, the convoy was joined by cars which had been parked in the street. Defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula got into the back of one of the departing cars.
CNN is reporting that the body is being transferred to a military hospital in Pretoria where it will be embalmed.
The only family members confirmed absent at this time are daughters Zindzi and Zenani Mandela, who were attending the UK premier of Mandela: Long walk to freedom at the Odeon Leicester Square in London last night.
According to reports, Zindzi and Zenani were informed of Mandela’s death while they were still at their hotel before the start of the screening, but insisted the event should continue.
Zuma made the announcement shortly before 12am. “He passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 20.50pm on December 5,” he said.
“He is now resting, he is now at peace. Our nation has lost its greatest son.”
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Mandela RIP.
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