Frustrations in Pretoria as thousands queue to say a personal farewell to Nelson Mandela
- 10 years ago
Thousands have arrived in Pretoria hoping to say a personal farewell to the man they called the father of their nation.
But hundreds of mourners at the lying in state of Nelson Mandela have been left frustrated and failed to say their goodbyes.
Some were stranded due to transport problems while there were organisational issues with the lines of queues.
“This is a waste of time all these poor people who are standing here thinking they are going to see Madiba, in the meantime while they are standing there others are just going in. Hundreds of people are left just standing and the time is getting wasted,” explained one mourner while another was more positive.
“In a way we are happy that we are in the surroundings and we are doing it for Tata. He had a lot of humility. He was very patient so we can’t do otherwise but to honour him and continue his legacy of humility,” explained Sipwo Ngobeni.
There were reports of a lack of drinking water and toilets and claims some mourners defied the wishes of the government and family and took pictures of Mandela’s body lying in state.
For others though it was a chance to say their goodbyes in a traditional way with singing and dancing while they queued.
But hundreds of mourners at the lying in state of Nelson Mandela have been left frustrated and failed to say their goodbyes.
Some were stranded due to transport problems while there were organisational issues with the lines of queues.
“This is a waste of time all these poor people who are standing here thinking they are going to see Madiba, in the meantime while they are standing there others are just going in. Hundreds of people are left just standing and the time is getting wasted,” explained one mourner while another was more positive.
“In a way we are happy that we are in the surroundings and we are doing it for Tata. He had a lot of humility. He was very patient so we can’t do otherwise but to honour him and continue his legacy of humility,” explained Sipwo Ngobeni.
There were reports of a lack of drinking water and toilets and claims some mourners defied the wishes of the government and family and took pictures of Mandela’s body lying in state.
For others though it was a chance to say their goodbyes in a traditional way with singing and dancing while they queued.