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S.Africa planned Madiba’s $3 billion funeral four years ago

South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela.PHOTO|FILE

What you need to know:

Mandela’s former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and President Jacob Zuma, attended a service at Bryanston Methodist Church, Johannesburg, yesterday.

The plan to give Nelson Mandela a decent send-off was first mooted four years ago, with the latest estimates showing it would cost $3 billion (Sh4.8 trillion), The Citizen has learnt.

According to South Africa’s Times newspaper, the plan to secure the world icon’s memorial service, the lying in state and the funeral and the protection of the huge number of VIP mourners, has been four years in the making.

Alarmed by Madiba’s deteriorating health, The Times reported, South Africa, in a bid to avoid any embarrassment, planned “a global” burial for the country’s first black president.

But, the plan was kept a top secret within the ruling elite, although Madiba’s close family members were at some stage briefed and also consulted. With more than 70 heads of state having confirmed their attendance at Mandela’s memorial service and funeral, the event could surpass in numbers what was considered to have been the biggest gathering of heads of state outside of the United Nations – the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Held on April 8 2005, John Paul’s funeral brought together at least 70 heads of state, 14 leaders of other religions, four kings and five queens. Over four million people lined the streets of Rome to mourn the leader of the Catholic Church.

On Sunday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) confirmed that 70 sitting heads of state will attend either the memorial service or the funeral. The event will see former leaders sitting alongside their countries’ incumbent leaders.

The memorial service and funeral will involve the activation of South Africa’s tightest security plan ever and the deployment of thousands of police and soldiers.

On Monday, the South African government said everything was in place to ensure the safety of more than 70 world leaders, royalty, scores of other foreign and South African dignitaries, and thousands of mourners expected to attend this week’s events across South Africa.

Officials said the security plan was based on the 2010 soccer World Cup that was organised peacefully amid tight security.

Security manpower will be brought into Gauteng Province, which hosts Johannesburg and Pretoria, from other provinces, the South African government announced yesterday.

On Sunday, thousands of people attended church services in remembrance of Mandela and to pray for the wellbeing of the country.

Mandela’s former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and President Jacob Zuma, attended a service at Bryanston Methodist Church, Johannesburg, yesterday.

At Bethesda Methodist Mission, in Houghton, Johannesburg, the Rev Mzwandile Molo said that Mandela lived “so magnificent a life that it cannot be held in a grave”.

South Africa government further announced that the 800-strong 14 SA Infantry Battalion has been put in place for the funeral in Qunu, Eastern Cape, this Sunday, when Madiba would be laid to rest in his home village. Deployed with armoured vehicles, their job is to secure Mthatha airport, in Eastern Cape, which would be frequently used to transport various VIP guests.

At least two SA Navy frigates will be stationed off the Eastern Cape coast. A no-fly zone has been imposed over Mthatha airport, with continuous aerial surveillance.

In Gauteng, there will be around-the-clock aerial surveillance over Johannesburg and Pretoria.

The Union Buildings, where Mandela’s body will lie in state from Wednesday, will be heavily guarded by police and defence force special forces soldiers.

FNB Stadium, where world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle, will attend the memorial service, will be in security lockdown.

State security services, including military and police intelligence agencies, have been activated to detect any threat. Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Collins Chabane, yesterday refused to comment on security arrangements.

“What we can say is that all the events and those who attend them are safe. I assure you, we have very strict security measures in place.”

By late yesterday, 59 heads of state had confirmed their attendance at Mandela’s memorial service tomorrow.

Prince Charles, according to British High Commission spokesman, Isabel Potgieter, will attend the funeral in Qunu on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale yesterday said that the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure was coordinating all security-related activities.

He said the police and other security forces, and government departments, had implemented plans to ensure the safety of mourners. “Our members will perform various tasks including general crime-prevention duties and VIP protection,” Makgale said. “There are not many [officers] on leave because of the festive season, but we have had to call up some of our specialist unit members, who were on leave.

“We are bringing in additional members from Eastern Cape to Gauteng.” Asked about the security plan, Makgale said the police had secured many events “and based on these experiences we amend our plans accordingly.

“The soccer World Cup was one of those events, though it had a dynamic different to the operational plan we have now activated,” he said. Defence force spokesman Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga said the guarding of Mandela’s body, its transportation from 1 Military Hospital’s mortuary to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, and the guard-of-honour would be the responsibility of the national ceremonial guard.

“The military will provide a ‘presence’ on the route Mandela will be transported along during the three days set aside for him to lie in state. We will provide sentries to guard Mandela while he lies in state and will ensure his safety while transporting him for burial.

“Airforce bases across the country are on stand-by,” he said.

Mabanga declined to provide information about the number of troops involved in the operation.

“The plan is sensitive. We are working in collaboration with the police. I can confirm that 14 SA Infantry are very active in the plan. Along with them, troops and units across the country are being mobilised.

“It is a state funeral, category 1, meaning a state funeral with full military ceremonial honours.

“This entails a guard-of-honour and troops for a 21-gun salute, pall bearers, fly pasts, a gun carriage to carry the coffin, a military band and a marching escort.”

Additional report by Mail &Guardian in Johannesburg