THE WORLD MOURNS MANDELA AT 95 by jollymj
www.jollymj.blogspot.com
South Africa's current leader announced late Thursday
that, after years suffering from health ailments, the man known widely
by his clan name of Madiba died at 8:50 p.m. (1:50 p.m. ET) surrounded
by family.
He was 95.
"He is now resting. He is now at peace," President Jacob Zuma said late Thursday. "Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father."
The official SAPA news agency reported early Friday that Mandela's body had been moved to a military hospital in Pretoria. It's expected to be embalmed in the next three to four days, after which there will be a public memorial service at a Johannesburg soccer stadium, according to government sources.
Then, his casket will lie in state for several days in Pretoria, and next week -- probably Friday or Saturday -- it will be flown to his ancestral hometown of Qunu for a state funeral and burial, the sources said.
Until that funeral, Zuma has ordered flags around South Africa to be "flown at half-mast," something that other countries including the United States and United Kingdom are also doing.
The African National Congress -- the political party long associated with Mandela -- said "our nation has lost a colossus, an epitome of humility, equality, justice, peace and the hope of millions."
"The large African Baobab, who loved Africa as much as he loved South Africa, has fallen," the party said in a statement, comparing Mandela to a sturdy tree found in Africa. "Its trunk and seeds will nourish the earth for decades to come."
RIP GREAT MADIBIA..............
Tip: Click on the images to view full size.
He was 95.
"He is now resting. He is now at peace," President Jacob Zuma said late Thursday. "Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father."
The official SAPA news agency reported early Friday that Mandela's body had been moved to a military hospital in Pretoria. It's expected to be embalmed in the next three to four days, after which there will be a public memorial service at a Johannesburg soccer stadium, according to government sources.
Then, his casket will lie in state for several days in Pretoria, and next week -- probably Friday or Saturday -- it will be flown to his ancestral hometown of Qunu for a state funeral and burial, the sources said.
Until that funeral, Zuma has ordered flags around South Africa to be "flown at half-mast," something that other countries including the United States and United Kingdom are also doing.
The African National Congress -- the political party long associated with Mandela -- said "our nation has lost a colossus, an epitome of humility, equality, justice, peace and the hope of millions."
"The large African Baobab, who loved Africa as much as he loved South Africa, has fallen," the party said in a statement, comparing Mandela to a sturdy tree found in Africa. "Its trunk and seeds will nourish the earth for decades to come."
RIP GREAT MADIBIA..............
Tip: Click on the images to view full size.
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