Crowds continue to grow at Madiba home

UPDATE: December 6, 10.17:

South Africans and foreigners of all shapes and sizes, a heavy media presence, as well as a major police contingent can be seen.
Apart from the singing the crowd is quite sombre.

UPDATE: December, 6, 9.59am

The South African Institute of Race Relations said in a statement that Mandela’s death will not destabilise race relations in the country, contrary to fears sometimes expressed.

“For many years now, South Africans have got along with one another largely peacefully without Mr Mandela having been active in the political sphere,’ said Lerato Moloi, head of research at the institute. “In fact, Mandela’s passing may be cause for many to reflect on the remarkably peaceful and swift racial integration of many parts of society, including schools, suburbs, universities, and workplaces. Although some of this had started to occur before 1994, as a symbol of racial reconciliation and forgiveness Mr Mandela will be viewed by many as having played a pivotal role in creating such a society.”
The 2013 edition of the flagship publication released by the institute, The South Africa Survey, has been named the Mandela Commemorative Edition in honour of Nelson Mandela who, in his celebrated ‘I am prepared to die speech’, is quoted from the 1963 edition of the survey.

UPDATE: December 6, 7.30am:

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has expressed their deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences after the news of Mandela’s passing on 5 December.

Daniella Melville, spokesperson for the Nelson Mandela Foundation said, “We know all South Africans, and indeed the world, join us in this profound sense of loss and sadness on the death of our beloved founder, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.”

She said Mandela’s living legacy is what has kept the foundation going. “His legacy lives on in all of us – it is in our hands now,” she added.

Donations to the foundation can be made via the website or the Facebook page: Nelson Mandela and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.
Details: www.nelsonmandela.org

UPDATE: December 6, 7.30am:

We have received reports that the roads surrounded Nelson Mandela’s Houghton home have been closed.

According to our journalist on the ground police blockades are blocking the roads giving access to Tata Madiba’s home in Houghton.

This comes after hundreds of mourners have flooded the streets in the suburb to hold vigil and pay their respect to the Statesman.

We will update you as soon as we have more information.

UPDATE: December 6, 7am:

Former President Nelson Mandela’s body has been taken to Military 1 Hospital in Pretoria.

According to reports the N1 was flooded by blue lights as official cars and motorbikes escoreted a black vehicle carrying the casket.

This is part of the preparations for the state funeral which Jacob Zuma said would take place. No date has yet been announced.

Meanwhile hundreds of mourners have gathered outside Madiba’s Houghton home to pay their respects.

To read more about Tata’s life and legacy click here

December 6, 12am:

Former president Nelson Mandela and the father of the nation died on 5 December.

President Jacob Zuma made the announcement shortly before midnight on 5 December.

In a live broadcast from the Union Buildings, Jacob Zuma said the former statesman passed away

peacefully in the company of his family at his Houghton home at 8.50pm.

“Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and

enduring loss,” Zuma said.

“The nation’s thoughts were with Madiba’s wife Graca Machel, his former wife Winnie Madikizela-
Mandela, his children, his grandchildren, his great grand-children and the entire family as well as his

friends, comrades and colleagues.”

All flags in the country will fly at half-mast on 6 December and remain lowered until after Mandela’s

funeral.

“Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who,

more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood,” said Zuma.

“Let us express, each in our own way, the deep gratitude we feel for a life spent in service of the

people of this country and in the cause of humanity. This is indeed the moment of our deepest

sorrow. Yet it must also be the moment of our greatest determination.”

Zuma said that Madiba had brought us together, and it is together that we bid him farewell.

Messages from world leaders began pouring in after the announcement was made.

US president Barack Obama said, “We have lost one of the most influential, courageous, and

profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth. He no longer

belongs to us – he belongs to the ages.”

“I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set, and so long as I

live I will do what I can to learn from him,” he added.

Obama, who is expected to attend Mandela’s state funeral, ordered the flags at the White House

and public buildings to be lowered to half-mast.

Meanwhile, as South Africans woke to news of Mandela’s death, crowds flocked to his Houghton

home on 6 December- holding candles and flags while singing struggle songs.

Social media was abuzz following the news of the former statesman’s death.

@MorganLPotter tweeted: “Today the World lost one of its greatest men. #RIP NelsonMandela, you

were a truly remarkable man and will be sorely missed.”

@ZOELIFE1: “RIPNelsonMandela …thank you for being an example and a beacon of hope not only

for Africa but for the world… #SouthAfricaunite.”

Mandela had been largely out of the public eye since the 2010 Soccer World Cup and had been

fighting several bouts of lung infection since 2011.

Mandela had been admitted to hospital on June 8 with a recurring lung infection.

He was discharged on September 1 and was being treated at his home.