Nelson Mandela lies in state: mourners pay tribute to Madiba in South Africa

2014-02-15 48

As the body of Nelson Mandela lies in state for the third and final day, South Africans who made the visit describe what Madiba meant to them and why they wanted to see his body.

About 100,000 South African mourners waited in line on Friday to view the body of Nelson Mandela, which was lying in state for the third and final day.

Some of those who viewed the body at the Union Buildings, a century-old government complex overlooking the city, wept at the sight of the revered anti-apartheid leader in a coffin.

"It meant a lot to see him today because I didn't see him alive, so I had to come today to see him for myself," one woman who viewed Madiba's body said.

Another woman added that paying tribute at his coffin meant a lot because "he was my hero. He's a role model for us and he's the best thing to come to this country."
Mandela, who was jailed for 27 years during white rule and later became president, died on December 5 in his Johannesburg home after a long illness at the age of 95.

From Pretoria, his body will be flown to his rural hometown of Qunu in the south-east of the country for a state funeral service and burial on Sunday.



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