Cape Town -
Cape Town Stadium is expected to host thousands of mourners at an official commemoration event for former president Nelson Mandela on Wednesday, mayor Patricia de Lille has announced.
A series of other events would be held across the city and would be aligned to the national plan to commemorate Mandela's life, De Lille said on Saturday.
A special council meeting had been called for Sunday so the city's elected representatives from across the political spectrum could pay tribute to Mandela.
De Lille said there would he an interfaith service on the Grand Parade at 5pm on Sunday; an evening of remembrance at OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha at 7pm on Monday; and the screening of the national memorial service, in Johannesburg, at the Grand Parade on Tuesday.
The Cape Town memorial would start at 4pm on Wednesday and would be followed by an evening of remembrance in Atlantis at 7pm on Thursday, a night vigil on the Grand Parade from 5pm on Saturday and the screening of the funeral in Qunu, also at the Grand Parade, next Sunday.
De Lille encouraged Capetonians to attend Wednesday's memorial service, which would showcase local and possibly international artists.
“In order to maintain order and safety, the city will have a coupon system in place to regulate entry to the stadium,” she said.
The coupons were free of charge and would be available at Computicket and Shoprite outlets.
“This coupon allows free access to all modes of [public] transport in the form of the MyCiTi bus service, Golden Arrow bus service and the Metrorail into and out of the city,” she said. - Sapa