Durban - The official State of mourning for former President Nelson Mandela includes a variety of events throughout the country. Nathi Olifnt and Charmel Payet report.
DAY 1: Sunday
* National day of prayer and reflection, an event which will be observed across the country.
In Durban:
* A single bell will toll at St Mary's church Greyville until the end of the mourning period. The bell will be muffled as a way of marking the death of a significant person.
* Exco members will be going to various churches in Durban. They will start at Umlazi Methodist church at V Section and proceed to Pinetown Christian Church.
* TV SABC 1 will screen a Mandela obituary in three languages; Tshivenda at 5:30am, Sesotho at 11am and Zulu at 5:30pm.
In addition, these documentaries will be screened: Encounters with Mandela at 12pm followed by Mandela Royal Revolutionary at 1pm and Banished Robben Island at 2.30pm. Mandela, the World that Made Him will be screened at 7.30pm followed by Great Souls: Nelson Mandela at 8pm
* DStv channel 199 will be a dedicated tribute channel
* M-Net Channel 101 will screen a Carte Blanche special at 7pm.
* KykNet Channel 144 will show Mandela Merkwaardige Man part 1 at 2.30pm followed by Mandela Merkwaardige Man part 2 and at 7:30pm So Onthou ek Madiba.
* The Making of Mandela will be screened on TLC Entertainment at 4:25pm Discovery Channel at 7:30pm.
* BBC World News will be covering key moments when the world will come together to remember his life, including the service of national mourning due to take place at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on Monday and the funeral service. BBC World News presenters* Komla Dumor, Lerato Mbele and Jon Sopel will be reporting live from South Africa.
Madiba:The Life and Times of Nelson Mandela depicting the the inspirational life of Mandela from poverty, to prison, to parliment and finally to become president and the critically acclaimed programme will be screened at 5pm and 11pm; Miracle Rising:South Africa documenting the end of apartheid in South Africa will be shown at 6.45pm tonight.
* Other special programming will include an interview Nelson Mandela gave to HARDtalk in 1997 airing today at 11.10am and 10.10pm. This 2003 documentary presented by BBC's David Dimbleby gained unprecedented access to Nelson Mandela where he talked frankly and freely about his remarkable life story.
(There will be dedicated editions of regular programmes including Focus on Africa, Global and Impact during the coming week, but the details are not yet available. The same applies to the The History Channel 186 which will be paying homage to Nelson Mandela by broadcasting a number of programmes dedicated to his memory. Check your online guide for further details)
DAY 2: Monday 9 December
* National: A Special Joint sitting of the national assembly has been planned to commemorate Mandela's life
* Durban: Special Council sitting at Durban City Hall to allow councilllors to pay tribute to Madiba.
* On TV: SABC 2 is the dedicated news channel with 24 hour coverage with documentaries, breaking news, live events and news bulletins
* eNCA will have 24 hours rolling ews coverage. The news will be interspersed with interviews with family, friends, business leades, politicians and ordinary citizens. This will be simulcast on eTV, Sky517 and Africa Channel
DAY 3: Tuesday 10 December
* Official memorial service takes place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. About 80 000 people will be able to attend the memorial service on a first come first serve basis. Those who wish to attend have to apply for accreditation.
DAY 4: Wednesday 11 December
* Madiba's body lies in state at the Union Buildings from Wednesday to Friday.
* Nelson Mandela’s remains will be transported daily between 1 Military Hospital, Thaba Tshwane, and the Union Buildings.
Access to the lying in state would be controlled and even members of the public would need to be accredited. They will get on a bus that will be driven and controlled. It is not a free-for-all. Cameras would not be allowed on the buses.
* Durban: Memorial services in different zones in the municipality a well as in other parts of the country.
DAY 5: Thursday 12 December
* Madiba's body lies in state for the second day at the Union Buildings.
* Memorial services are held in all provinces across the country.
* Durban: Memorial services in different zones in the municipality.
DAY 6: Friday 13 December
* Madiba's body lies in state for the third day at the Union Buildings.
* Memorial services are held in all provinces across the country.
* Durban: Mass memorial serice at the Moses Mabhida stadium hosted by the Province and the eThekwini municipality.
DAY 7: Saturday 14 December
* Zuma presides over a farewell service for Mandela at the Waterkloof Airforce Base.
The mortal remains of former President Mandela will be flown from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria to Qunu in the Eastern Cape.The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will take charge of this leg of the State funeral.
A military Guard of Honour will welcome the remains which will be draped in the national flag.
Upon arrival at Umtata Airport the SANDF contingent will perform the ceremonial removal of theremains form the air craft.
The coffin will be placed on a gun carriage and then transported into a hearse. The SANDF will sound the national anthem while the Guard of Honour will present arms and salute. The remains will thereafter be transported to the family home in Qunu.
* Night vigil at Moses Mabhida Stadium’s People’s Park
DAY 8: Sunday 15 December
* Funeral service and interment ceremony will take place at President Mandela’s home and final resting place at Qunu in the Eastern Cape. Mandela is laid to rest in a funeral expected to be attended by friends, Mandela family, the President and Cabinet, Heads of State, and other dignitaries.
The SANDF will again be charged with draping the coffin. A National Salute will be performed and the National anthem will be played.
* You will be able to watch proceedings on big screens at the Moses Mabhida Stadium’s People’s Park.
DAY 9: Monday 16 December
* Unveiling of the statue of late President Mandela at the Union Buildings which coincides with the National Day of Reconciliation commemoration. - Sunday Tribune