Grahamstown residents braved the rain to join South Africa and the world in paying their respects to former president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on Tuesday 10 December.
Grahamstown residents braved the rain to join South Africa and the world in paying their respects to former president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on Tuesday 10 December.
President Jacob Zuma announced on Thursday night that Mandela had died peacefully in his home. Zuma made the announcement on national radio and television shortly before midnight, telling a shocked nation that Mandela had passed away peacefully in the company of his family at his home around 8.50pm on Thursday, 5 December.
Makana residents gathered at the Miki Yili Stadium on Tuesday, where a big screen was set up for locals to gather and watch Madiba's memorial service.
Warmly dressed people sat in the tents watching the proceedings on the big screen, while others enjoyed the event from the comfort of their cars.
Extension 2 residents Julia Gaven and Nomhle Mtise told Grocott's Mail they had left the comfort of their homes to watch the memorial service together with other community members, to show their respect to the late icon.
Gaven said they believed that the occasion was extremely important and felt obliged to attend.
"We have come out despite the rainy conditions to be part of it. It also gives us a sense of peace and calm to be here," she said.
Mtise echoed Gaven's thoughts, saying it was a good idea to set up the public viewing areas.
"It's good because it creates awareness about Madiba's passing and it provides a space for people to go to," she said.
Some local leaders also attended the event. Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac, Chief Whip Julie Wells and ANC Women's League Sub-regional convener of the Sarah Baartman region Nomhle Gaga were among those at the stadium.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail, Wells said the plan to have the public viewing areas was rolled out nationally. She said most of the infrastructure being used was that was used during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Wells said the municipality would continue the live screenings until after the funeral on Sunday. She said there was a need to create a place where people could gather. She said the tents would be up until after the funeral.
Wells said the municipality was also developing a space of remembrance near the cathedral, where residents could place their tributes.
She said there would also be a book inside the City Hall in which the general public could write their messages of condolence.
Meanwhile, Grahamstown members of the Black Sash are planning to stand in silence outside the Cathedral tomorrow at 12.30pm. The stand, in honour of Mandela's death, is also intended as a reminder of the most repressive years of apartheid, when the Illegal Gatherings Act banned or restricted protests. During the 80s, Black Sash members undertook several silent protests outside the Cathedral, individually in order to avoid arrest.
Joint plans by the Cathedral and the University to form a human chain from the Drostdy Arch to Joza have been postponed until students and school pupils return.
A regional memorial service was scheduled to be held in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday as well.
The ANC's Sarah Baartman Region will host a memorial service in Sunday's River on Wednesday. According to a statement from regional secretary Scara Njadayi, midday will see the writing of condolence messages and wreath-laying in the party's regional office in Kirkwood.
The memorial service will take place at 2pm in the Moses Mabida Community Hall in Kirkwood. Njadayi said it would be attended by members of the Regional Executive Committee, Provincial Executive Committee, the National Executive Committee (Sue Van Der Merwe) and chaplains of the ANC.
