'Madiba unites the world even in death'

December 10, 2013 10:30

In what is supposed to be the largest gathering of international dignitaries in recent history, more than 70 heads of states would be in attendance when anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela's memorial service will be held in Johannesburg.

The grand service will be held at the 95-000 seat FNB Stadium in Soweto, which was the venue of 2010 soccer World Cup final, when Mandela was last seen making a major public appearance.

Offering a tribute to nelson Mandela at a event, Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, said that the entire world was converging upon South Africa 'again' to honour the stalwart who ended the white-minority rule and became the first black Prime Minister of the nation in 1995.

"We pay tribute today to the man that is bringing the whole world to South Africa again, who even in his death can unite a nation," he said.

The memorial service will be a one of its kind of gathering in the recent history, with dozens of significant global dignitaries converging upon Johannesburg to pay their final respects to the great leader.

So, the South African got has expanded the capacity of the Soweto stadium to 200,000 from 95000 and also 11000 security men have been deployed for the event.

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