MEDIA STATEMENT
SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER 2013
NELSON MANDELA STATE FUNERAL UPDATE
PUBLIC MOURNING VIEWING AREAS: EASTERN CAPE
Live television feeds to public tribute and mourning areas around Qunu where former President Nelson Mandela will be buried tomorrow, will give thousands of people a chance to share this event with fellow citizens.
Television will also make it possible for people in other parts of the country and the world to follow Tata Madiba’s final journey to his resting place on the family farm in Qunu.
A marquee has been set up on the Mandela family property to accommodate about 4 500 accredited guests at the State Funeral Service tomorrow morning, Sunday 15 December 2013.
Access to the Mandela family homestead at Qunu is restricted to guests who have been accredited to attend this weekend’s proceedings. Accreditation includes the following categories: guests; FPC and ANC marquee.
As is customary, no invitations have been issued to guests who have been accredited to be in the marquee tomorrow morning.
Only 450-500 of these guests, including members of the Mandela family, have been accredited to move to the actual burial site, which is away from the marquee that has featured in many television broadcasts over the past few days.
Today and tomorrow the body of President Mandela will be received with full military honours in Mthatha from which the body will be transported to Qunu along a route where the public is invited to form a guard of honour.
Accredited guests and family
v Specific details have been communicated with guests and in this regard, only accredited guests will be allowed access to the Mandela Family residence.
Members of the Public
v Members of the public are encouraged to form a guard of honour along the sides of the R61 Road, Sutherland Street, Nelson Mandela Drive and N2 towards Qunu, as the procession will be taking place to receive the body of Tata Mandela, from 11:00 today, Saturday 15 December 2013. Members of the public are requested to raise their South African flags which are being distributed at KSD Municipality and across town and villages along these routes.
v A list of public mourning viewing areas is annexed hereunder and we urge the public to use those closest to them in order to manage travelling logistics around traffic and related areas.
v Members of the public DO NOT have to be accredited to attend the public mourning viewing areas.
v Members of the public are requested to attend the mourning sites with the dignity and respect deserving of an occasion of this nature and magnitude.
Transport arrangements:
v The first shuttle service from East London Airport will depart at 00:00 tonight and the last one will depart at 02:00am.
v There will be park and ride services at Walter Sisulu University – Zamukulungisa campus with the first bus departing at 02:00 and the last at 04:00 to the funeral venue.
v Doors to the marquee will open at 05:00.
v All guests should be seated by 07:00. Doors will close at 07:30.
| Public Mourning Viewing Areas | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | District Municipality | Town | Place/Venue | Type of activity | Venue Capacity & Logistics | Contact Person | Contact details |
| 1. | OR Tambo | King Sabatha Dalindyebo | 1. Rotary Stadium | Big screen | 10 000 | Mr Ndyebo Kopo Mr Ndumiso Tetyana Mr Sonwabo Mampoza |
|
| 2. Open space below Qunu Museum | Big screen | 5 000 | |||||
| 3. Mthatha Stadium | Big screen | 15 000 | |||||
| 4. Khaya Majola Stadium | Big screen | 5 000 | |||||
| 5. Empa Village next to Qunu | Big screen | 5 000 | |||||
| 6. Nkalane village next to Qunu | Big screen | 5 000 | |||||
| 7. Mvezo Traditional Council | Big screen | 5 000 | |||||
| 8. Mqekezweni Traditional Council | Mobile Truck screen | 5 000 | |||||
| Port St Johns | 9. Port St Johns Sports Ground | Big screen | 5 000 | ||||
| Ingquza Hill | 10. Lusikisiki College Grounds | Big screen | 5 000 | ||||
| Mhlontlo | 11. Tsolo Junction | Big screen | 5 000 | ||||
| 2. | N. Mandela Metro | Metro | 12. Nelson Mandela Stadium | Big screen | 45 000 | Ms Portia Mlisa Mr Roland Williams |
|
| 3. | Buffalo City Metro | Metro | 13. Sisa Dukashe Stadium | Big Screen | 10 000 | Ms V. Dube Mr Keith Ngesi |
|
| 4. | Chris Hani | Intsika Yethu | 14. Cofimvaba Stadium | Big Screen | 5 000 | Mr Vuyani Sibene | |
| Queenstown | 15. Queenstown Sports complex | Big Screen | 2 000 | Ms Thobeka Mqamelo | |||
| 5. | Joe Gqabi | Senqu | 16. Lady Grey (Kwezi Naledi Hall) | Big Screen | 5 000 | Mr Sabelo Kakaza Mr Mandla Gceya |
|
| 6. | Cacadu | Makana | 17. Miki Yili Stadium (Grahamstown) | Big Screen | 5 000 | Ms Portia Mlisa Ms Lynne Niemann |
|
| Kouga | 18. Humansdorp | Mobile truck screen | 5 000 | Ms Portia Mlisa Ms Lynne Niemann |
|||
| Blue Crane | 19. Somerset East Town Hall | Big Screen | 2 000 | Ms Puleng Kekana Ms Lynne Niemann |
|||
| 7. | Alfred Nzo | Matatiele | 20. Matatiele Stadium | Big Screen | 5 000 | Mr Ndyebo Kopo Mr Ndabuko Masumpa |
|
| Mzimvubu | 21. Mt Ayliff Town Hall | Big Screen | 2 000 | Mr Ndyebo Kopo Mr Ndabuko Masumpa |
|
||
| 8. | Amathole | Mnquma | 22. Nqadu Great Place | Big Screen | 5 000 | Ms Tabita Ngqunge Mr Siyabulela Makunga |
|
| Mbhashe | 23. Idutywa Sports Ground | Big Screen | 5 000 | Ms Tabita Ngqunge Mr Siyabulela Makunga |
|
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Ms Yolisa Blom
For any queries please contact: DDG in the Office of the Premier Mahlubandile Qwase, the Provincial Cabinet Spokesperson.
FOR MORE INFORMATION INCLUDING ROAD CLOSURES VISIT: http://www.mandela.gov.za
TELEPHONE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS PRESS RELEASE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. IF YOU ARE A MEDIA AGENT AND REQUIRE THE SAME, PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA THIS WEBSITE.
Information received from SAFREA (South African Freelance Association)