It will surely be a moment for the ages: tens of thousands of South Africans, dozens of presidents and prime ministers, celebrities and street sweepers -- all gathered Tuesday in Johannesburg to pay respects to Nelson Mandela, who died last week.

At Tuesday's memorial service -- Mandela won't be buried until Sunday -- presidents of six nations will pay tribute to the anti-apartheid leader in a four-hour service that will likely bring much of South Africa to a stop.

Send us your stories, memories and photographs of the Nobel Peace prize winner and former South African president.

Among the speakers will be U.S. President Barack Obama, who like Mandela was his nation's first black president. Obama has cited Mandela as his own inspiration for entering politics.

In addition to Obama, former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will attend. More than two dozen U.S. lawmakers also plan to go.
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Other guests include the Prince of Wales, British Prime Minister David Cameron and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who will also speak, as well as celebrities such as Bono, Oprah Winfrey and Naomi Campbell.

With 91 heads of state attending, security will be tight.

South African officials won't talk about their security plans -- how many police officers, how many troops, precautions to keep the stadium weapons- and explosives-free.

"But we can assure that all necessary steps have been taken, and that is why the leadership of the world and former leaders of the world have confidence to come to our country at this time to share with us this moment," said Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane.

Program

Crews worked overtime Monday to prepare FNB Stadium in Johannesburg for the service.
The five lives of Nelson Mandela

The stadium, where Mandela delivered his first major speech after his release from prison, can hold some 90,000 people, but that won't be enough to hold the hundreds of thousands clamoring to celebrate Mandela's life.

The government has set up overflow locations at stadiums and other facilities throughout the country.

With private vehicles banned from the area around the stadium, the government pressed buses from around the country into service and stepped up train service to move the crowds.

In addition to Obama and Ban, the presidents of Brazil, Namibia, India, Cuba and South Africa are expected to speak at the service, as are family members, friends and others.

One potential complication: Forecasters predicted potentially heavy rainfall during the event at the open-air stadium.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/09/world/africa/nelson-mandela-memorial/


To me this can be the biggest funeral of all time.this point to show that Madiba was an international icon and the world still remember his legacies.UN as set aside Mandela birthday as Nelson Mandela day,almost all sport gave a minute silence in recognition of the passing of a great man including white house.words can not explain Madiba iconic legacies.Obama,Cameron,Merkel,Hollande and others including our President,Jonathan are to grace the funeral

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he deserve more.

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So many hidden comments already Wetin happen

mohumyta: .

space booker

This is absurd and uncalled for. Someone said something reasonable and one of the mods hid his post. Does it mean that we don't have the freedom to speak our minds anymore?

Afrobasic: So many hidden comments already Wetin happen

Don't mind the power drunk moderators.

@least we know the day our own Obasanjo dies Boni Yayi(Benin) Fnaussaugbre Eyadema(Togo), Bongo(Gambia) and the Teodore Obiang(Guinea Bissau) and other sit tight leaders he helped prop all over Africa would attend.

91 tan? How many heads of state do we have altogether.
What a perfect way to go...

I'm sure all 91 heads of state will have something to say about how Madiba lived a life worthy of emulation yet none of them will emulate. If only humans can stop being hypocritical and start doing the right things....

WHIZBRO: @least we know the day our own Obasanjo dies Boni Yayi(Benin) Fnaussaugbre Eyadema(Togo), Bongo(Gambia) and the Teodore Obiang(Guinea Bissau) and other sit tight leaders he helped prop all over Africa would attend.

hehehehe. Whoever dies first among them can be sure of moral support from his cohorts. Lol

Wow!

What Mandela would really want is not a state funeral, of what use is that to the dead. A quiet funeral with family and close friends would do and all the millions of money that will be spent on security of the state funeral should be used to feed the poor children dying of hunger and thirst without a roof over their head.

Another great black man, Tupac Shakur said "they got money for wars but they aint got money to feed the poor".

Anyway I think this hiding of comment is getting ridiculous. This is a forum, alot of comments shouldnt be hidden. The only comment that should be hidden is a threat to life comment.

Wow!!! This will surely enter the Guiness Books of Records.

xp17: Wat is Obama doin there, I tot Mandela was in FBI terrorist list till 2008 . Mk dem pursue the guy and his delegate with koboko.

Metcheeew.


Let d death rest , why wastage of public funds?

No mind Americans with their double standards. Most of the people who attended are even in support of the people who carried out the Apartheid.

moderator you are the biggest waste of space of all time

Madiba rest in perfect peace:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGHq17MsnjM

xp17: Wat is Obama doin there, I tot Mandela was in FBI terrorist list till 2008 . Mk dem pursue the guy and his delegate with koboko.

Metcheeew.


Let d death rest , why wastage of public funds?

It's being said the Republicans were the one's that had former pres Mandela as one of the most wanted list until the year 2008..

what if terrorist squad are going to attack with sucide bombers?........91 heads of state....like say na jesus die *breeze out*

vislabraye: Wow!!! This will surely enter the Guiness Books of Records.

I don't think so. A similar number of heads of state also attended the funeral of late British Prime Minister-Winston Churchill.

The fact that 91 leaders would be in attendance, lends credence to the popular axiom- "A good name is better than silver or gold".

RIP Madiba.