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Mandela funeral cortege to pass through Pretoria

International Desk |
Update: 2013-12-07 07:04:43
Mandela funeral cortege to pass through Pretoria

DHAKA: Nelson Mandela’s funeral cortege will travel through the streets of the capital Pretoria on three consecutive days, the South African government said on Saturday, encouraging people to line the route.

‘Every morning, when the remains leave the mortuary to lie in state, those routes will be made public,’ said government spokesman Neo Momodu, reports The Times of India.

Mandela’s remains will lie in state at the Union Buildings, the official seat of the South African government, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

‘We are going to be encouraging members of the public to be lining the streets,’ Momodu said.

The lying in state is part of a larger ten-day remembrance of the former president, who died on Thursday aged 95.

On December 9, both houses of parliament will be recalled from recess for a special joint sitting in honour of Mandela’s legacy.

The following day a memorial service will be held at a 90,000-plus capacity stadium in Soweto.

The ‘Soccer City’ stadium hosted the 2010 World Cup final where Mandela made his last major public appearance.

Mandela will be buried on December 15 in Qunu, a town in the Eastern Cape, the hilly rural area where he grew up.

BDST: 1754 HRS, DEC 07, 2013

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