The Family (Nelson Mandela') spoke today.. 'We've lost a great man...‘a son of the soil, a son of Africa’. but his spirit is still with us'

Chat212 - Newsmail Report...

• Nelson Mandela's family today spoke out for the first time since his death.
•  'We've lost a great man...‘a son of the soil, a son of Africa’ but his spirit is still with us':The country’s government & Mandela's family pay tribute as it's revealed his body will be driven through streets of South Africa for three days so millions can pay tribute

British memorial: Flowers are laid in tribute at the foot of the Mandela statue in Parliament Square, London

Cortege will leave a morgue on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday morning
Will go to the Union Buildings in Pretoria where his body will lie in state
Nelson Mandela's family today spoke out for the first time since his death, admitting they had ‘lost a great man, a son of the soil’.

Tributes: Mourners place flowers outside the South Africa home of Mr Mandela in Houghton, Johannesburg

People dance during a gathering of mourners on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where the former South African President Nelson Mandela resided when he lived in the township

A troupe of traditional dancers from the Kliptown suburb of Soweto outside Nelson Mandela's old house in Soweto, Johannesburg

Children walk past a mural depicting Mr Mandela during different stages of his history, on their way back from visiting a candy shop near to the Regina Mundi church in Soweto, Johannesburg

David Moyes claps before the game as everybody claps for the former South African president

Manchester United and Newcastle United football teams line up for a minute's applause with the crowd standing to mark the life of Mr Mandela before their Premier League match at Old Trafford today

Their statement came as it was revealed today that a funeral cortege bearing Mr Mandela's body will travel through Pretoria for three days ahead of the late South African president’s burial.

The country’s government said that the cortege will leave a morgue on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning to go to the Union Buildings where his body will lie in state, ahead of Sunday’s burial.

Lt Gen Temba Templeton Matanzima, a spokesman for the family, read a statement, which said: ‘The pillar of the royal Mandela family is no more with us physically, but his spirit is still with us.

‘We have lost a great man, a son of the soil whose greatness in our family was in the simplicity of his nature in our midst - a caring family leader who made time for all… we will miss him dearly.’

Overwhelming crowds and a host of world leaders are expected to attend services honouring Mr Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95, with hundreds already flocking to his home in Houghton.

Meanwhile, Downing Street confirmed today that Prime Minister David Cameron has written to South Africa's president Jacob Zuma and Mr Mandela's widow Graca Machel to express his condolences.

‘The PM paid tribute to Mandela's extraordinary grace and dignity and the example that he set not just to South Africa but to the world on his release from Robben Island, saying “he gave the world new hope that the deepest wounds can be healed and that freedom and reconciliation can triumph over division and hate”,’ a spokesman said.

‘The PM concluded: “He will forever have a distinguished place in history. It falls to all of us and future generations to learn from him and try to realise his extraordinary legacy”.’

Official services begin on Tuesday with a major memorial planned at the 95,000-capacity First National Bank Stadium - also known as Soccer City - on the edge of Soweto.

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said he expects massive crowds far beyond the capacity, adding that there would be ‘overflow’ areas set up. ‘We can't tell people not to come,’ he said.

At Mr Mandela's house in Houghton, hundreds of people gathered today, where they sang liberation songs and homages to Mr Mandela.

They walked through Houghton’s streets past expansive, stately homes carrying bundles of flowers and images of Mr Mandela. One young girl carried flowers torn from a garden, weeds included.


Precious Ncayiyana, carried a painting of Mr Mandela made from old newspaper clippings about him. His left eye bore the number 4664, Mr Mandela's former inmate number, while his right eye said Madiba, his clan name.

• 'He's gone, but his spirit lives on'
• Precious Ncayiyana, pharmacist

Ms Ncayiyana, a pharmacist, said she planned to drive the painting's artist to Pretoria so he could make a painting of the leader's body lying in state.

‘It's my way of contributing to Madiba's legacy. He's gone, but his spirit lives on,’ she said.

As the chanting and cheering behind her grew louder, she raised her voice to add: ‘If you see someone you can help, it doesn't cost anything. ... That's what he taught us.’

Those planning Mr Mandela's funeral include the former president's family, the federal government, the military and the African National Congress political party.