South Africans formed a guard of honour for their former president this morning as his body was transported through Pretoria in a casket draped in the national flag, in a hearse surrounded by outriders, to lie in state for the first of three days.
This morning Mandela's grandson Mandla visited his open casket in the government's Union Buildings, followed by his second wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and third wife Graca Machel, as well as South Africa's current president Jacob Zuma.
Tribute: Military officers carry the casket of
former president Nelson Mandela into the Union Buildings in the South
African capital Pretoria, the seat of government where he will lie in
state for three days
Citizens stood on top of bollards and clamoured to film the historic passing of the cortege on their phones
Salute: Soldiers pay tribute as the hearse carrying Mandela's casket passes them on its way to the Union Buildings
Arrival: The procession this morning concluded with Mandela's casket being carried in to the Union Buildings
Poignant: The Union Buildings were the seat of the apartheid government before Mandela ruled the country from there
Solemn: The casket will lie in state at the Union Buildings until Mandela is buried at a funeral on Sunday
Symbolic: The casket was wrapped in the South African flag which was introduced after the end of apartheid
'This a significant moment for me and my children,' said 48-year-old teacher Thapelo Dlamini, who had been on waiting on the street for two hours with his two children.
Mr Mandela will be buried on Sunday in Qunu, his ancestral home in the Eastern Cape province, where a giant arena is already being built nearby.
A stone's throw from the home where the former ANC leader grew up, it will stage the biggest funeral in South Africa’s history. Prince Charles will be among the dignitaries travelling to the remote rural location for the service.
Soldiers salute Mr Mandela's coffin as it leaves the 1 Military Hospital on the outskirts of Pretoria this morning
Emotional: Thousands of South Africans waved and paid their respects to their first black president
Icon: Despite the early start, citizens thronged the streets of downtown Pretoria to glimpse the hearse
Cortege: The body of Nelson Mandela is driven through the streets of the capital Pretoria this morning
Military: Soldiers stand to attention as they wait for the procession to pass them on the streets of Pretoria
The service will be held at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square from 10.30am at the request of the South African High Commission, feet away from the church.
The two share strong links and were the scene of freedom vigils for Mr Mandela during his incarceration.
Speaking at the service will be Sir Sydney Kentridge QC and Lord Joffe of Lidington, who both represented Mr Mandela at his treason trials, and campaigner and African National Congress veteran Mama Thembi Nobhadula.
Thousands of people are expected to pay their respects to their former leader over the next few days.
Tribute: South Africans lined the streets as Mr Mandela's remains were driven past at about 7am
Onlookers waited for hours. One told Sky News: 'We loved that man. He fought for us to be here'
Cheers: A group of women show their support for Mandela from behind a security barrier as the cortege passes
Waving goodbye: South Africa is currently engaged in a week of mourning for its former president
Good humour: Many South Africans have taken the opportunity to celebrate Mandela's life as much as mourning his death
Procession: These mourners had gathered on Madiba Street to watch the hearse pass with its military guard
The US president spoke of the 'heroic' life of the South African leader, describing him as the 'last great liberator of the 20th century' and compared his actions to those of Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and US civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
But he also warned against viewing Mr Mandela as detached from normal life.
'He was not a bust made of marble, he was a man made of flesh and blood,' Mr Obama told the crowds.
Protected: Dozens of outriders accompanied the hearse of Mr Mandela as it travelled through Pretoria
Sombre: While Mr Mandela's death at 95 was sad, most used the occasion to celebrate his achievements
Poignant: Flowers lie on the road as Mr Mandela's cortege skirts through the outskirts of the capital
Dancing: Young mourners celebrated Mandela's life as they watched the progress of the convoy
Send-off: A group of South African women dancing and singing to honour Mandela's memory
'It was precisely because he could admit to imperfection, because he was so full of good humour, even mischief despite the heavy burdens that he carried, that we loved him so,' he added.
Mr Obama's speech came after he shook hands in the stadium with Cuban president Raul Castro, the first such greeting in public involving a president of the US since the Cuban revolution.
The former US president Bill Clinton reportedly shook hands in private with Raul's brother Fidel behind closed doors at a UN lunch in 2000.
During the service in the two-thirds-filled stadium, boos were heard for the current South African president Jacob Zuma and the former US president George W Bush. But there were cheers for Mr Obama and for Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.
Mr Mandela, who died last Thursday aged 95, was described as one of the most iconic world leaders in history
A dome is constructed near the house of former South African president Nelson Mandela, in Qunu
Nelson Mandela's face is seen on a huge screen next to mourners at yesterday's stadium service
South Africans were praised for the 'dignified' way in which they commemorated the death of Nelson Mandela
Also seen arriving at the service were supermodel Naomi Campbell, rock star Bono, former South African president FW De Klerk, Mr Clinton and his wife, ex-US secretary of state Hillary, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and the current president Francois Hollande.
Mr Mandela, described at one time as the world's most famous political prisoner, was released after 27 years in jail in 1990 and went on to become South Africa's first black president. He died last Thursday aged 95.
The service, marked by heavy rain, heard from Andrew Mlangeni, a former prisoner on Robben Island with Mr Mandela, who spoke of the 'outpouring of love' following his death.
'Madiba is looking down on us. There is no doubt he is smiling and he watches his beloved country, men and women, unite to celebrate his life and legacy,' he said.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told the service: 'South Africa has lost a hero, we have lost a father and the world has lost a beloved friend and mentor.
'Nelson Mandela was more than one of the greatest leaders of our time, he was one of our greatest teachers. He taught by example, he sacrificed so much and was willing to give up everything for freedom, equality and justice.'
Thousands of ordinary South Africans sang God
Bless Africa - Nkosi Sikelel'i Afrika - as they joined leaders at the
FNB stadium in Soweto
The memorial celebrated his gift for uniting enemies across political and racial divides
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