PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A flag-draped casket containing the body of Nelson Mandela arrived with a military honor guard Wednesday in an amphitheater where he was sworn in 19 years ago as South Africa’s first black president.
Army helicopters had been circling overhead but then a sudden quiet fell over the amphitheater as the hearse arrived. Eight warrant officers representing the various services and divisions of the South African National Defense Force carried the casket, led by an SANDF chaplain in a purple stole. Soldiers set down the coffin and removed the flag.
Motorcycle-riding police officers had escorted the hearse from a military hospital outside of Pretoria to the Union Buildings.
I just hope I won’t cry, said Paul Letageng, 47, an employee of the seat of government who wore a grey suit and black tie said. It’s amazing to think that 19 years ago he was inaugurated there, and now he’s lying there. If he was not here we would not have had peace in South Africa.
Mandela emerged from 27 years in prison under the white racist government in 1990, appealed for forgiveness and reconciliation and became president in 1994 after the country’s first all-race democratic elections.
People lined the streets to watch the procession drive slowly to the Union Buildings. They sang old songs from the struggle against the apartheid regime and called out their farewells to Mandela, who died Dec. 5 at the age of 95. Traffic backed up for several kilometers on a highway leading into Pretoria. Two military helicopters circling around Union Buildings.
President Jacob Zuma named the amphitheater after Mandela by decree Tuesday. The Union Buildings, described by the South African government as a “modern-day acropolis,” sit atop a hill overlooking Pretoria. Made of half a million cubic feet (14,100 cubic meters), the building long has been a symbol of governance in the country — and of apartheid until Mandela took office.
Mandela’s grandson Mandla and Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula led mourners into the viewing area. Afte casket bearers left, four junior officers in white uniform from the South African navy remained to keep watch over the body, rotating position every hour.
Mandela’s body will lie in state for three days. Later Wednesday, Mandela family members, government officials and world leaders are expected to pass by the coffin. It’s unclear whether it will be an open- or closed-casket viewing. Officials have banned cameras from the viewing area.
Each day, Mandela’s coffin will be driven back to 1 Military Hospital to be held overnight.
Mandela’s body will be flown Saturday to Qunu, his home in the Eastern Cape Province. He will be buried Sunday.
On Tuesday, world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, eulogized Mandela. In his speech, Obama called Mandela the last great liberator of the 20th century.
We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again, Obama said. But let me say to the young people of Africa, and young people around the world — you can make his life’s work your own.
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Gambrell reported from Johannesburg.
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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP .