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Tribute: Military officers carry the casket of former president Nelson Mandela into the Union Buildings in the South African capital Pretoria, the seat of government where he will lie in state for three days

It was there that he assumed the first black presidency of South Africa in 1994, holding court in the same rooms once occupied by his white oppressors.
Thousands lined the streets to view Nelson Mandela's casket as the great former president of South Africa lies in state in the country's capital Pretoria. As a hearse drove the coffin, wrapped in a South African flag, from a hospital to the government's Union Buildings to lie in state for three days.
This morning Mandela's grandson Mandla visited the open casket of his grandfather, followed by his second wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and third wife Graca Machel, as well as South Africa's current president Jacob Zuma.

Mr Mandela's remains will be moved daily between the Military Hospital on the outskirts of Pretoria to the Union Buildings.