Advertisement

100,000 farewell Mandela

Hundreds of South Africans have broken through a police cordon in a last-gasp bid to join the estimated 100,000 people who viewed Nelson Mandela’s remains during three days of lying in state.

The group pushed past officers on Friday moments before the casket was closed and Mandela began his final journey back to his childhood home of Qunu, where he will be buried on Sunday.

Crushing disappointment tainted the final day of the lying in state, with tens of thousands of mourners unable to say their personal farewell to the anti-apartheid icon.

Barely two hours after the public was allowed in to view the open-top casket, the government said it would be unable to accommodate the huge numbers still waiting and appealed for people to stay away.

Many had camped out to secure an early place in the queue, but early that morning there were already 50,000 waiting for buses to the Union Buildings – the seat of government where the coffin has been laid out for three days.

By early afternoon, it was clear that most would never get inside, and people started leaving in sad, dejected droves – many of them having already been turned away the day before.

“We really thought this was the day. But again we did not get to see the old man,” said Lydia More, 31.

“We just feel empty. It’s so sad,” she said.

The South African government said a total of 100,000 people saw Mandela’s remains during the three days his body lay in state.

“The third day closed with over 50,000 paying their respects to our national icon,” the government, adding to previous tallies.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.