Nelspruit - Government programmes in Mpumalanga have been put on hold until after Nelson Mandela's funeral, a Sapa correspondent reported on Tuesday.
Provincial spokesman Zibonele Mncwango said civil servants were being given time to mourn Madiba properly.
“(During this week), we have all been requested to freeze any other activities in order to mourn our icon with respect and dignity,” he said.
All mayors had established operation centres to co-ordinate activities around memorial events for Madiba.
“We request that everyone who wants to co-ordinate any activity around the mourning of our icon must touch base with these centres so that necessary assessment and arrangement may be done to ensure the safety of the people, and that the activity is conducted in a dignified manner,” said Mncwango.
A public viewing area has been set up at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, the provincial capital, where locals can watch Madiba's official memorial service, scheduled to start at 11am, broadcast live from the FNB Stadium south of Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, the ANC will hold a separate memorial for Mandela at Mpumalanga Stadium in Ermelo on Thursday.
Mandela died at his Houghton home in Johannesburg on Thursday aged 95, and will be buried on Sunday in Qunu in the Eastern Cape. - Sapa