Tens of thousands of people have joined political, royal, and religious leaders from around the world at the memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela in the rain at FNB stadium just outside Johannesburg.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US President Barack Obama, Cuba’s Raul Castro will all make speeches along with Mandela’s grandchildren in an interfaith service led by leaders of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian faiths.
The memorial service brings together leaders from around the world, including those who otherwise rarely come into direct personal contact such as the leaders of the US and Cuba.
The scale of the service demonstrates the iconic nature of Nelson Mandela, remembered across the globe as a man who managed to salvage the nation of South Africa and lead it on a path of reconciliation and harmony
Many people have waited for hours in the rainy conditions near Soweto for the chance to pay their respects to the leader who passed away last Thursday aged 95.
In the South African tradition, rains at a memorial or funeral is seen “a blessing from the ancstors welcoming a son of the soil” said Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
The FNB stadium where the memorial is being held, also known as Soccer Stadium, was the location of Mandela’s final public appearance during the 2010 Football World Cup.
British Prime Minister David Cameron is in attendance at the memorial alongside Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband, as well as former prime ministers John Major, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown.
Mandela’s body will lie in state in Pretoria for three days following the memorial, with a state funeral due to take place in his home village of Qunu on Sunday.
Mr Mandela’s body will lie in state in Pretoria on the following three days and a state funeral takes place on Sunday in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province.
Two notable absentees from the service today are the Dalai Lama, who has twice failed to get a visa for travel to South Africa, and Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cited high travel and security costs. However, many have speculated that Netanhyahu’s failure to attend would be due to him trying to avoid potential anti-Israeli protests, as Israel had strong links with the apartheid regime and many South Africans see similarities ebtween their struggle for equality and the ongoing plight of the Palestinians. Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein will represent Israel instead.
