The plan to give Nelson Mandela a decent send-off was first mooted four years ago, with the latest estimates showing it would cost $3 billion (Sh4.8 trillion), The Citizen has learnt.
According to South Africa’s Times newspaper, the plan to secure the world icon’s memorial service, the lying in state and the funeral and the protection of the huge number of VIP mourners, has been four years in the making.
Alarmed by Madiba’s deteriorating health, The Times reported, South Africa, in a bid to avoid any embarrassment, planned “a global” burial for the country’s first black president.
But, the plan was kept a top secret within the ruling elite, although Madiba’s close family members were at some stage briefed and also consulted. With more than 70 heads of state having confirmed their attendance at Mandela’s memorial service and funeral, the event could surpass in numbers what was considered to have been the biggest gathering of heads of state outside of the United Nations – the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
Held on April 8 2005, John Paul’s funeral brought together at least 70 heads of state, 14 leaders of other religions, four kings and five queens. Over four million people lined the streets of Rome to mourn the leader of the Catholic Church.
South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela.PHOTO|FILE
On Sunday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) confirmed that 70 sitting heads of state will attend either the memorial service or the funeral. The event will see former leaders sitting alongside their countries’ incumbent leaders.
The memorial service and funeral will involve the activation of South Africa’s tightest security plan ever and the deployment of thousands of police and soldiers.
On Monday, the South African government said everything was in place to ensure the safety of more than 70 world leaders, royalty, scores of other foreign and South African dignitaries, and thousands of mourners expected to attend this week’s events across South Africa.
Officials said the security plan was based on the 2010 soccer World Cup that was organised peacefully amid tight security.
Security manpower will be brought into Gauteng Province, which hosts Johannesburg and Pretoria, from other provinces, the South African government announced yesterday.
On Sunday, thousands of people attended church services in remembrance of Mandela and to pray for the wellbeing of the country.
Mandela’s former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and President Jacob Zuma, attended a service at Bryanston Methodist Church, Johannesburg, yesterday.
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