Pretoria - The Union Buildings is a hive of activity with less than 48 hours to go before President-elect Jacob Zuma steps on to the inaugural podium in the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre to take his Oath of Office. South Africans around the country will on Saturday witness him being sworn in as President of the Republic by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and give his acceptance speech. SAnews visited the Union Buildings on Thursday where the preparations ahead of Zuma's second inauguration …
Union Buildings
Tshwane residents get into the swing of 20 years of freedom
Pretoria - Tshwane residents will get into the swing of celebrations next Friday, to mark the country's 20 years of freedom and democracy through an interactive exhibition. In preparation for the 20 Years of Freedom: Creating a New Legacy Exhibition, 12 trucks carrying the exhibition material today travelled through Pretoria in a procession to showcase and invite residents to the event next week. The trucks travelled from the Tshwane Events Centre through Sophie de Bruyn Street, into Jeff …
Madiba statue to be unveiled
Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma will this morning officially unveil a 9-metre tall, bronze statue of the late former President Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. This forms part of commemorating Reconciliation Day as well as the centenary of the Union Buildings. The statue unveiling takes place the day after Madiba was laid to rest at the Mandela family farm in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday. According to the Presidency, the unveiling signals the start of celebrating …
Fountains Valley park-and-ride facility reopened
Pretoria – The Fountains Valley park-and-ride facility has been reopened and members of the public who wish to view the late former President Nelson Mandela's body at the Union Buildings can make use of it. Buses have been arranged to transport people from the Fountains Valley park-and-ride to the Union Buildings. People will be scanned on arrival at the Union Buildings. "We would like to apologise to the mourners who were inconvenienced this morning and urge them to remain calm and …
Madiba lying in state for second day
Pretoria – The body of the late former President Nelson Mandela has left 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane for the second day to Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre, at the Union Buildings, for members of the public to view. The cortege left the hospital, escorted by the South African National Defence Force members, Tshwane Metro Police and the South African Police Service. Hundreds of people broke into song, ululated and danced as Mandela's coffin, draped in the South African flag, was …
Mixed emotions as Mandela’s hearse arrives at Union Buildings
Pretoria - As military helicopters hovered over former President Nelson Mandela's hearse as it was being accompanied by a procession from One Military Hospital to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, residents who had lined up to form a guard of honour had mixed emotions about the event. Centurion resident Kabelo Gwangwa said seeing the hearse that carried Madiba's coffin left him speechless. "I thought I would feel hurt but I was overcome by emotions and a sense of joy filled me when I …
City of Tshwane ready to welcome mourners
Pretoria – The City of Tshwane says it is ready to welcome everyone who will be coming to view Madiba's body as it lies in state, at the Union Buildings tomorrow. A Gauteng government delegation, led by Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, will converge at City Hall from 7.30am, where they will be welcomed by Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and city councillors. From City Hall, the delegation will proceed to the Union Buildings where Madiba's body will lie in state. Mokonyane and Ramokgopa are …
Members of public called to line streets
Pretoria - Members of the public are invited to line the route and form a public guard of honour for Madiba when his body is transported on Wednesday morning from 1 Military Hospital to the Union Buildings. The lying-in-state commences tomorrow until Friday and ordinary South Africans and guests will be given an opportunity to pay their last respects to former President Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings. Madiba's body will be transported daily between 1 Military Hospital, Thaba …
Tshwane preparing for the influx of mourners
Pretoria - Preparations are underway to cater for the influx of people who will be coming to the City of Tshwane to view the late former President Nelson Mandela's body at the Union Buildings. The mortal remains of Madiba will be lying in state at the Union Buildings from Tuesday. The body will be transported to Union Buildings from 1 Military Hospital daily. Members of the public will be afforded an opportunity to view the body, which will be displayed at the Amphitheatre at the Union …