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JOHANNESBURG. — Nelson Mandela was given back to ordinary South Africans yesterday, who queued in their thousands from early morning to file past his open casket on a day of viewing reserved for the public. On Wednesday, the cameras of the world had been trained on world leaders, VIPs and celebrities paying tribute to a man known for his common touch — relating to princes and paupers with equal ease.

Ordinary mourners from all walks of life had also queued in their thousands to view the body, but many were turned away by evening without having made it to the front of the long, winding line of people united in grief and gratitude for the father of their democratic nation.

Many returned yesterday for another chance, with the entire day given over to general public access.
“My heart is so broken,” said Anita Bodiba (35), who arrived at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, at 4:30am to join the long queue that had already formed.

“I can’t even sleep, I’m thinking of Madiba. He is the one who united us here in South Africa — white people, black people, Indian people,” she said — using the clan name by which the democracy icon is fondly known.

On Wednesday, Mandela’s widow Graca Machel and other family members had been followed by presidents, royalty and other international figures in paying their last respects in the amphitheatre of the Union Buildings where the Nobel laureate lay in state.

It was here that he was inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president in 1994, having emerged from 27 years’ imprisonment.
A third day of lying in state will be held tomorrow, after which Mandela’s body will be transported to his boyhood home of Qunu, ahead of its eventual burial on Sunday.

Yesterday’s programme began, as the day before, with Mandela’s casket being brought in a solemn cortege from the 1 Military Hospital to the Union Buildings.

Thousands lined the route as a black hearse, flanked by motorcycle outriders, carried the flag-draped coffin on its solemn journey through the streets of Pretoria.

People carried posters bearing Mandela’s likeness and many clutched miniature South African flags, dancing and singing revolutionary songs from the liberation struggle era as helicopters hovered overhead. — AFP.