53 world leaders and hundreds of celebrities gather to remember Nelson Mandela today

Nelson Mandela 1919-2013

"No one in my family had ever attended school… On the first day of school my teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave each of us an English name. This was the custom
among Africans in those days and was undoubtedly due to the British bias of our education. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why this particular name I have no idea."

— Mandela, 1994

SOUTH AFRICA - The biggest single event of the century takes off today and it is going to be a very special gathering of people. Thousands of people will gather - world leaders, South Africans and people from all over the world will come together  in the ‘rainbow nation’ to pay their last respects to a leader among leaders, a man who was loved by people all over the world. 

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan arrived in Johannesburg yesterday. The PresPresident the US, Barak Obama has also also flown to the South African town with his wife Michelle. Joining the Obamas will be joined by all former US presidents except George Bush who doesn’t fly long-haul. 53 presidents will also be attending including Chinese leader, Rol Castro, Robert Mugabe, Australia’s Tony Albert, British Prime Minister, David Cameron and Prince Charles of England, U2 singer Bono, talk show queen, Oprah Winfrey and billionaire Richard Branson. Among those attending will be a group called the Elders which Mandela created a few years ago. The group made up of leaders from around the world will be led by Koffi Anan. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be among those paying tribute. The former South African president died aged 95 last Thursday.

Makaziwe, Mandel’s first daughter has been talking about her dad in her first TV broadcast interview since his death.  Makaziwe Mandel talked about how members of Mandela’s family were at his bedside when he was slipping away. She said doctors told everyone to gather and say good bye. People are still flocking to his home in Soweto outside Johannesburg. 

Mandela's memorial will take place at the stunning newly refurbished FNB stadium. It was at this stadium in 1990 that Mandela addressed a turbulent nation after 27 years in prison. Since then, FNB stadium has been rebuilt and can sit 96,000 people. In addition, the Enis Dukstan stadium will be used today. People have been urged to go to places near their homes. Everything has been put in place security wise to make sure everything goes well. In our modern era it is hard to remember anyone that has been more widely loved than Nelson Mandela.

When Mandela became the first black president of South Africa is set himself the task of reconciling the native black people and the whites. Throughout his time in office he used the FNB stadium to achieve his goals. It was here that he lifted up the Rugby cup won by the SA team in 1995. On that day, the world watched as Nelson walked into the stadium wearing the green polo jersey a symbol of segregation and apartheid. Later, Francois Peenar, the captain of the rugby town said tears welled in his eyes as he saw President Mandela wearing his number.

Roads leading to his hometown have been re-laid and as President Zuma the South Africa leader announced, Mandela will be given a state burial with full military honours and South Africa is making sure this will be a burial no one will forget.

Despite Mandela’s breakthrough South Africa is still an unequal society and there is still a lot to be done. The native South Africans have their freedom and rights but they are still stuck in poverty. Education and jobs for majority of black South Africans is still out of reach. South Africans still live in the shanty towns, unpaved roads and few personal belongings is their bane. There is scarcity of good healthcare, electricity and clean water inadequate in black neighbourhoods. The whites live in large luxurious homes in the built up parts of the country while the blacks live in tin houses on the other side of town. The imaginary line of apartheid is still glaring for all to see. But many of the natives are putting their troubles aside to celebrate the man who led them to freedom, Mandela.

The Programme of the day as far as we know is that President Obama will be giving a speech and so would the Cuban president as well as four of Mr Mandela's grandchildren. The programme will beamed live throughout the world.