Cape Town - Capetonians have flocked to secure places at Wednesday’s concert at Cape Town Stadium – snapping up 53 000 coupons by last night.
The City of Cape Town had made available five free coupons per person at a variety of points and spokeswoman Priya Reddy confirmed this morning there were none left by around 9pm.
“It’s incredible,” Reddy said.
Last night, around 2 000 mourners gathered at a community event in Khayelitsha. And on Tuesday, essentially “Day Five” since Mandela died, saw central Cape Town filled with images and sound from the memorial service at the massive FNB Stadium in Soweto, which was due to start at 11am.
After the event, a variety of live performers were due to take the stage at the Grand Parade, most notably Jimmy Dludlu.
Mourners will be able to use Greenpoint’s Fan Walk, which runs from Buitengracht Street along Somerset Road towards the stadium, dubbed “The Walk of Remembrance” in honour of Mandela.
Further into this week, a community event is planned for Atlantis on Thursday night, and a night vigil will be held at the Grand Parade through Saturday night, until the finale, the funeral in Qunu on Sunday.
Robben Island Museum will be closed on Sunday.
Chief Executive Sibongiseni Mkhize told the Cape Argus: “It has been extremely difficult to continue operating, business as usual, since he died. We will be closed on Sunday, out of respect.”
Mkhize said tourists had been placing flowers outside Mandela’s cell.
“We also have a condolences book, for people to sign.
“We have been fully booked, with three ferries operating, taking around 1 000 visitors a day – but we are always fully-booked at this time of year. It’s always difficult to get a ticket until around January 15.”
Cape Argus