Johannesburg - c
The service at the FNB Stadium south of Johannesburg is scheduled to start at 11am.
At Ellis Park, a stage was set up at the northern side of the stadium where Mandela famously presented the Webb Ellis Cup to victorious Springbok captain Francois Pienaar at the 1995 Rugby World Cup wearing a replica jersey.
Ndzo Mtyi, a director of a Johannesburg-based earth-moving company, brought four of his shop stewards to represent their workers as they mourned the death of the global icon.
Mtyi said he met the former statesman at the unveiling of a 30m statue of Mandela at the Groot Drakenstein Prison, formerly known as Victor Verster, where Madiba spent the last three of his 27 years in prison.
“We decided to pay tribute to the old man, and I've decided to bring the shop stewards to represent the workers as we still have to push for production,” Mtyi said.
“We honour the sacrifices he made for all races and for us to have this democracy. It is just a pity that we are not living up to his legacy.” - Sapa