What to expect at the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture

The highly-anticipated annual Nelson Mandela Lecture will see former American President Barack Obama deliver the lecture under the theme Renewing the Mandela Legacy and Promoting Active Citizenship in a Changing World.

• Guests will make their way to the Wanderers Stadium in Illovo from 10am with the official proceedings set to begin at 2pm. Various current and former world leaders are set to attend the event including National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete and Desmond Tutu.

• At 1.45pm guests will be introduced as they make their way to the stage including Graça Machel, Njabulo Ndebele and Precious Moloi-Motsepe. Sello Hatang, the chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation will announce the arrival of Cyril Ramaphosa and Obama.

• At 2pm the Soweto Gospel Choir will sing the South African national anthem and Sibongile Mngoma will sing the American national anthem.

• Just after 2pm, Ndebele, who is the chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, will give the welcome remarks followed by Moloi-Motsepe who will discuss the work of the Motsepe Foundation, which is hosting the lecture in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Machel will share a moment of appreciation from Mandela’s family.

• At 2.30pm, Ramaphosa will speak about Mandela’s legacy as the former president before handing over to Obama. Obama’s lecture is scheduled to take 45 minutes.

• In conclusion, Hatang will give the final thanks before a music tribute begins. Thandiswa Mazwai, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the Soweto Gospel Choir are due to perform, among others.

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