ANC to address Soweto mourners

People gather on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where former president Nelson Mandela once resided. Picture: Ihsaan Haffejee

People gather on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where former president Nelson Mandela once resided. Picture: Ihsaan Haffejee

Published Dec 6, 2013

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Johannesburg - An ANC delegate was expected to address scores of mourners gathered at Vilakazi Street, in Orlando West, Soweto, on Friday, following the death of former president Nelson Mandela.

People lining the Soweto street where Mandela once lived, started dancing when an African National Congress truck parked in the middle of the road and played loud music.

They danced to the tunes, which were in support of the ANC. Some of them waved posters of Mandela proclaiming “Your freedom and mine cannot be separated”.

The atmosphere in the area was anything but sombre, with people stating they were celebrating Mandela's life.

Many of them were dressed in T-shirts displaying an image of his face. Others wore ANC T-shirts.

Mandela and his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela lived at 8115

Vilakazi Street, which is now a museum. It is just up the road from the home of Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

The street also has several restaurants, many of which were packed on Friday afternoon.

President Jacob Zuma announced on Thursday that Mandela, 95, had died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg.

Sapa

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