Presidents, religious leaders and cultural figureheads from all corners of the world are expected for the funeral, which will see a cortege with Mandela’s coffin pass through the streets of Pretoria on three consecutive days.
The memorials and events will culminate in Mandela’s burial on December 15 in his boyhood home of Qunu.
Mandela’s body will lie in state for three days from Wednesday, with the cortege taken out each morning to give as many people as possible the opportunity to say farewell.
Formal memorial events begin Sunday with South Africans invited to go to churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship.
“He stood for freedom, he fought against those who oppressed others he wanted everyone to be free,” Mr Zuma told those gathered. He urged people “not to forget some of values he stood for fought for sacrificed his life for”.
“He has fought against white domination and he has also fought against black domination,” Mr Zuma said.
“When our struggle came to an end he preached and practiced reconciliation to make those who have been fighting to forgive one another and become one nation,” he said.
“He preached and believed that we should live in peace and unity that we should be united as a rainbow nation,” Mr Zuma said.
“We should, while mourning, also sing at the top of our voices, dance and do whatever we want to do, to celebrate the life of this outstanding revolutionary,” said President Jacob Zuma.
Around 80,000 people are expected to attend a memorial service in the Soweto sports stadium that hosted the final of the 2010 World Cup, on Tuesday.
The organisational and security logistics are daunting, and the military cancelled leave for troops and reservists to help with crowd control.
Minister for the Presidency Collins Chabane stressed that people could follow all events related to the “historic, unprecedented state funeral” live on television.
“This will help to reduce congestion and potential disaster,” Chabane said.
According to a foreign ministry spokesman, fifty-nine foreign heads of state or government have said so far they will attend either the memorial ceremony or the state funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa in the coming week.
US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will travel to South Africa together with former first couple George W. and Laura Bush.
Another former US leader, Bill Clinton, who was in office when Mandela became South Africa’s first black president, will also attend.
Foreign Minister Jan Kohout will represent the Czech Republic.
The Queen of England will not attend Nelson Mandela’s funeral after being advised to scale back on long haul travel but send the Prince of Wales instead, it was confirmed today. She was however reluctant in making the decision not to fly to South Africa.
Buckingham Palace said Prince Charles will represent the British monarchy at the memorial events in South Africa commemorating the Nobel Peace Prize-winner’s life.
Charles, who has made several visits to South Africa, is understood to have sent a private letter of condolence to Mr Mandela’s widow Graca Machel following his death last week.
The Duchess of Cornwall will not be accompanying him to the funeral, a Clarence House spokeswoman said.
Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter today he will also fly out for the service.
Mr Cameron wrote on Twitter: “I’ll be at the memorial service in South Africa on Tuesday to commemorate the great man. #RIPMandela.”
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