Mandela to be buried in eight days

His body was taken to a Military Hospital in Pretoria this morning.

A memorial service will take place at a football stadium in Johannesburg on Monday and afterwards he will lie in State for three days in Pretoria.

He will then be taken to his birthplace Qunu, where he will be buried on Saturday week.

Outside his home mourners, some still in pyjamas, have held an all-night vigil, dancing, ululating, chanting and singing.

There was sorrow today at the death of Nelson Mandela but also celebration of the life of an inspirational leader who was the “embodiment of courage and reconciliation”.

Around the world, politicians and public alike paid their tributes to South Africa’s first black president. Impromptu shrines were created as flowers were placed by the many statues honouring Mr Mandela.

The anti-apartheid hero, held in the highest esteem across the world for leading his nation’s transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s after 27 years in prison, died yesterday. He had been receiving medical care for a lung infection at his home.

Mr Mandela spent his final months surrounded by family after being released from hospital following a three-month stay and died peacefully, President Jacob Zuma announced in a televised address last night.

The world learnt of his death as royalty, celebrities and fans were watching the royal premiere of a film chronicling his incredible life.

In a twist of fate, it was during the screening in London’s Leicester Square that Mr Mandela’s daughter Zindzi Mandela was informed her 95-year-old father had died peacefully at home.

Gasps were audible in the auditorium at the film premiere as the news was broken to Ms Mandela, although fellow audience members were not informed of the death until after the screening of the film Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

Damian McCarthy, 45, who was at the screening, said: “I’ve never felt an atmosphere like that. It was unbelievable. It went from being quite a high-spirited occasion to absolute silence – stunned silence.

“It’s one of those moments where people say ’Do you remember where you were?’. It’s definitely put a bit of a bizarre twist on the premiere.”

After the film, Idris Elba, who plays Mr Mandela, took to the stage with producer Harvey Weinstein to hold a moment’s silence to honour the great man.

A law student turned freedom fighter, Mr Mandela’s battle to end the system of apartheid that tore apart his nation led to his incarceration in a tiny cell in the infamous Robben Island jail.

He was released from prison in 1990, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and was elected South Africa’s first black president the following year.

President Michael D Higgins, said Mr Mandela's "powerful" example will go on after his death.

He described the leader as “very, very impressive, in every sense”.

“When he spoke on the last occasion, he spoke about the importance of a future devoted to peace,” Mr Higgins said.

“He had that phrase, which occurs regularly in his speeches, about the struggle for freedom and achieving the right to deliver freedom.”

Flowers and a framed picture of Mr Mandela were laid at the base of his statue in London’s Parliament Square in the early hours.

One tribute on a card read: ”Thank you for the sacrifices you made for all of us.”

A second read: ”May God shine light on your homecoming in heaven. Rest in Peace Mr Mandela.”