Part 1 Nelson Mandela: A Nation Remembers

difficult to make out exactly what is going on. Perhaps if you can see

the crowd. Speak it is the National Anthem, yes.

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,

Setjhaba sa South Afrika # South Afrika. Uit die blou van onse hemel,

Uit die diepte van ons see # Oor ons ewige gebergtes, Waar die kranse

antwoord gee, Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall

stand, Let us live and strive for freedom # In South Africa our land.

# CHEERING

Thank you. Long live the spirit of Nelson

Mandela. Long`lived. Long live the spirit of Milson `` Nelson Mandela.

They were Nelson Mandela, Aviva. spirit of Milson `` Nelson Mandela.

They were Nelson Mandela, Aviva `` Viva. Thank you very much Jacob

Zuma. Former president. Former President Thabo Mbeki. APPLAUSE

Thank you, thank you. Former President FW de Klerk.

Leaders and Excellencies of various countries who have come to South

Africa, Mrs Graca Machel, Winnie Mandela. The Mandela family. The

leadership of the ruling party, the African National Congress. And the

leadership of various other political parties, religious leaders

and a number of non`governmental organisations, and everyone else who

is here, I welcome you in the name of our President Jacob Zuma and the

Mandela family. I have been asked by President Jacob

Zuma the direct proceedings. We trust that you will work with us to

ensure that we have a dignified and fitting memorial service in honour

of our Father Nelson Mandela. And we wish to applaud the people of South

Africa for the dignified manner in which they have been honouring and

remembering the memory of Nelson Mandela since he passed away. We

applaud you and thank you for that. On behalf of the president, I

welcome all of you who have travelled from all corners of the

world. I also extend warm words of welcome to our friends from all over

the world, and let us give Nelson Mandela's friends as well as the

friends of South Africa from all over the world a round of South

African warm welcome, and say thank you for coming. APPLAUSE

I also welcome those around the world who cannot come but are

watching the proceedings on television. We have more than 100

countries represented here today, easily representing billions of

people around the world who are bidding farewell to Nelson Mandela

will stop we say thank you for that. And I apologise for the rain. We

were not able to stop that. But this is how Nelson Mandela would have

wanted to be sent off. These are blessings in our African tradition.

When it rains when you are buried, it means that the gods are welcoming

you, and the gates of heaven will be open. Today we will reflect on our

collective memories of Nelson Roly Lala Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla

Mandela ``. Today's memorial service should hopefully give each one of us

to gather our memories of Nelson Mandela. And on Sunday, we will bid

him farewell when we lay him to rest knowing that our memories of him

will endure for ever. A number of speakers will pay tribute to Nelson

Mandela, and they will reflect on the life of a man whose inner

concept of self encapsulated the best of humanity. We will reflect on

a life that transcended the lines of our own humanity. It is a life that

took under its care millions of South Africans who were oppressed

under apartheid. We will reflect on the life of a man who took the pain

of millions of South Africans. He took their humiliations and the

dignity they were stripped off and made them his very own. And with the

weight of burden on his shoulders, he went to free us all. And in a

way, black and white, the Imp are on a journey to reconcile with each

other, to forgive our past transgressions, to embrace human

rights and begin the task to become a nation of diverse cultures,

diverse religions and different races. A nation that speaks in many

tongues but that should finally have one voice in a chorus of unity. He

was our teacher and our mental, and he never gave up on us for our

failures, but acknowledged that despite the rage that sometimes

engulfed us, we can only succeed if we reach out to each other. This is

the man that we have come to say farewell to, the man who has all our

nation. In many ways, we are here today to tell Madiba that his long

walk is finally over. He can enjoy our beautiful country of South

Africa, a view he discovered when he began walking the hills of his

birthplace. His long walk is over, but ours is only beginning. And with

that, as we walk down memory lane, I would like us now to do what he

would have wanted us to do, to open this memorial service with an

interfaith opening prayer. I would like to call upon the Chief Rabbi,

the Hindu faith, the Moslem faith and the Christian faith leaders to

come and give us opening prayers on an interfaith basis. Please go

ahead. God of the spirits of all flesh, in

whose hands are the souls of all the dead, receive, we beseech you, the

soul of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Remember for him the righteousness

for which he is remembered, how he embodied the generosity of spirit

and powers of forgiveness of your servant Josef and that you we read

in your Hebrew Bible. Joseph was thrown into a pit of scorpions by

his brothers, who were filled with hatred towards him, sold into

slavery and ex`old from his father and his home for 22 years, many of

which, due to a terrible Miss Justice, were spent in jail. Joseph

emerged from jail to become a leader and a head of government, and when

he was reunited with his brothers, had the opportunity to exact

vengeance and justice, and yet Joseph the righteous transcended his

personal pain and need for retribution and for gave his

brothers so that his family would not be torn apart and destroyed for

ever. So overlord, your servant Nelson Mandela, like the biblical

Joseph, rose up from jail. He also transcended his years of pain and

personal suffering to forgive and embrace his brothers and sisters who

inflicted so much pain on him and so many millions of others in order

that our diverse South African family would not be torn apart by

hatred and division. Madiba brought to life the words of Genesis, fear

not, for I am I in place of God? not, for I am I in place of God?

Although you intended harm, God redirected for good in order to

accomplish that a vast people be kept alive, so now fear not, I will

sustain you and your young ones. And so he comforted them and spoke to

their hearts. Nelson Mandela spoke to our hearts. He brought us

comfort. And through his mighty power of forgiveness, he sustained

us and liberated our country from the pit of prejudice and injustice,

unleashing the awesome generosity of spirit on millions of South

Africans. Let his reward be with him and his recompense before him.

Shelter his soul in the shadow of your winds. Make known to him the

path of life in your presence, his fullness of joy at your right hand,

for evermore. Bestow upon him the bounding happiness that is treasured

up for the righteous. God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their

wounds, grant your consolation to the mourners, strengthen and support

them in the day of their grief and sorrow and remember them and their

families for a long and good life. Wipe away the tears of all South

Africans and indeed the world. Bless the people of this country, a nation

of heroes, who came together to transcend the pain of the past in

order to build a great nation on earth and inspire our hearts to

continue to walk in the path of Nelson Mandela, to look up to his

majestic legacy. As the Bible says, like one who his mother comforts, so

well I comfort you, says the Lord. And in Djourou Salom shall you be

comforted. The Lord God shall be your everlasting light, and the days

of your morning shall be ended. And let us say our amen.

Letters are our heads and pray. Lord, you are the giver of physical

vigour. Your Grace is immortality, your disfavour is death. To you we

offer our humble worship. Certain is the death of the born, and certain

is the birth of the dead. The ending and beginning are unknown. We see

only the intervening formations. only the intervening formations.

That is why there is no need to grieve. Lead us from truth to

truth, like our father, Nelson Mandela. Lead us from death to

immortality, like our father, Nelson Mandela. May he rest in peace, amen.

I begin with the opening chapters of the holy Koran. All praise him,

Almighty, Lord of the worlds, he is an equal and unmatched. The

beneficent, the merciful, the master of the day of judgement. Oh,

Almighty Lord, you are known to be worshipped, you are known to be

sought assistance from. We extend our condolences to the Mandela

family and to the nation during this time of sadness on the passing away

of Madiba, a global icon of freedom in recent times. We place on record

our indebtedness to Madiba for his selfless efforts, in salvaging the

nation and leading it to the path of peace, reconciliation and harmony.

And laying the foundation of a free and prosperous South Africa. Oh

Almighty Allah, we beseech it that leaders of this great country and

leaders of the entire world and people of this country and people of

the world would stand up for ideals and vision as Madiba strove for He

never lost an opportunity to reconcile people. We pray to you, O

Almighty Lord, let us strive towards peace, harmony, reconciliation and

the basis of human dignity. As he made everyone feel important

whenever he met them, we ask of you, oh, Almighty Lord, let us come

together in our places of work and residence. As he stood up to

injustice, let us do likewise, even if it is waged by the powerful. As

he stood up for the hopeless people of the world, we pray to you, oh,

Almighty Allah, help us sustain that resolve and realise we deserve our

freedom by helping others towards freedom. As he was kind and

merciful, and as the per half `` Prophet Muhammad said, have mercy

and kindness to people in this world and the Almighty will show kindness

towards you. We ask of you, Almighty, to plant in the hearts of

every human being the seed of kindness. Madiba was an example

showing us a spirit of self sacrifice. We ask you, Almighty

Lord, to grant us the grace of resisting corruption and

temptation. Finally, in this player we ask, let us dedicate ourselves to

the good ideals he strove to in his life.

Creator God, Lord of life and love, you hold the whole universe in your

hands. You know the number of hairs on all of our heads. You know the

face of the nations and the hopes and fears of each individual. On

this day of Madiba's memorial service, we pray for peace in the

world, for peace without, for peace within. Jesus Christ Prince of

peace, may you touch every place of conflict, decision, fear, may it

fill our communities with light and free us from the horrors of conflict

and violence of too many homes. Bring your reconciling love. Lord,

we pray for South Africa in particular on this Memorial Day.

Help us to draw lessons of our past and to build on the firm foundation

that by your Grace, Madiba laid for us. Give us the courage to hold fast

to his values, to follow the example of his practices and to share them

with the world. We left our hearts with gratitude for your loving

care, but you have now called Madiba home to his eternal rest, where pain

and suffering are no more. We commend his soul to your merciful

keeping and we commend his body to your loving embrace. We say to

Madiba, go forth with your loving soul on your journey out of this

world, in the name of God, who created you, suffered with you and

liberated you. Go home, Madiba, you have selflessly done all that is

good, noble and honourable for God's people. We will continue where

you have left off, the Lord being our help. We now turn to you, Lord,

in this hour of darkness, sadness, pain and death, in tears and

morning. We wail, yet we believe that you will console us, that you

will give us the strength to hold in our hearts and minds and the courage

to enact in our lives in a news Madiba fought and stood for. We turn

to you, Lord, and in trust with you his soul to eternal rest and loving

arms as he returns to the Madiba clan. We pray particularly for his

closest and dearest, for roost, for his children, grandchildren, and

great grandchildren. `` for Graca Machel. At the start time of

morning, at this time when you have called him to rest, accept his soul

and number him with the company redeemed in heaven. Console and

comfort his family, console and comfort South Africa, Africa and the

world. May his Long Walk To Freedom be enjoyed and realised in our Time

by all. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Our men. `` amen

# Nelson Mandela, Nelson Mandela. # Nelson Mandela, Nelson Mandela,

Nelson Mandela. SHE SINGS IN NATIVE TONGUE.

# nelson mandela #. SHE SPEAKS IN NATIVE TONGUE. From

the veterans of the African National Congress.

From those who spent many years in prison with our late president,

Nelson Mandela. There we have had the formal part.

We are now going to hear from a lifelong friend of Nelson Mandela,

who served in prison next to him in Robben Island.

I am sorry, we seem to have a problem with the sound. The

torrential rain is playing havoc with everybody's Systems and I

suspect this is a problem with the feed from the stadium. John Simpson

is still with me. We will try and sort out the sound. We are hearing

from a man who served time in Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. I think

this is a problem for the South African broadcasters. This is

undoubtedly a momentous day, so many people converging on South Africa to

be part of this. It is quite extraordinary. I was trying to think

back when so many top world leaders have been at an occasion like this.

The only thing I could think of was the funeral of King Hussein. That is

nearly 20 years ago. King Hussein of Jordan, that is. For something like

this, there wasn't that same outpouring of love at King

Hussein's funeral. Nelson Mandela was the kind of figure that

politicians are spire to be and somehow, sadly, nobody can quite

make it. `` aspire to be. There was such an extraordinary mixture. I

think they have sorted out the feed from the stadium. Let's go back into

hear from a lifelong friend of Nelson Mandela. Andrew Mlangeni full

he continued to touch many lives. I am overcome by the outpouring of

love and admiration demonstrated by all of you here today. Madiba is

looking down on us now, and there is no doubt, smiling as he watches his

beloved country unite to celebrate his life and legacy.

JON SOPEL: well, we have lost the feed again. This is terribly

frustrating, I'm afraid. These are the pictures from outside the

stadium which we are providing, but I think this is the South African

broadcast feed, or whoever is in charge of this event. The driving

rain is causing this havoc. Let's charge of this event. The driving

rain is causing this havoc. Let s go rain is causing this havoc. Let's go

inside the stadium to talk to my colleague George Alagiah. The

ceremony has finally got under way, but the weather is causing havoc.

You can tell firstly by the fact that the stadium isn't as full as

everyone expected. That could be to do with the rain, or all sorts of

other things. But nonetheless, in the stadium, the ceremony is under

way, and we heard just a little while ago the interfaith prayers.

Certainly outside South Africa, we tend to think of this country as

black and white, that that is the major divide. But South Africa is

very multicultural, and we saw that. There was a Hindu priest, the imam

and so on. That is exactly how national events are celebrated in

South Africa, that they have an interfaith prayer where everybody

comes, and they close with the Anglican Bishop, the Bishop of Cape

Town. He closed that prayer session. And now Andrew Mlangeni is

addressing the nation. That gives you a little flavour of what is

happening. Andrew Mlangeni Was at Robben Island with Mandela.

JON SOPEL: We take you back to the stadium.

Nelson Mandela was an inspiration to billions. He showed sacrifice,

wisdom and patience. He gave people hope when there was none. He voiced

optimism and confidence out of distrust and sorrow. It is not

possible to compare an individual of his stature.

As a young man caught in the midst of apartheid, the ideals that he

stood for were a guiding light during uncertain times. Throughout

the struggles that we experienced, he kept his vision and the

principles he represented. My path with Madiba, a friend of mine who

knew him better introduced me to him as Mr Mandela, a very wise man. At

this stage, I did not know that our lives were intertwined and bound

together a destiny. When I became active in the policies of the

African National Congress, I got to know Madiba better. His greatness as

a leader stemmed from his humility and his belief in collective

leadership. He believed in sharing insights and learning from others.

When the doors to peaceful demonstration were barred to the

African National Congress, Madiba persuaded the African National

Congress. Because of the previous exploits we carried out, I became

one of his faithful. From 1961 to 1962, we were sent out for training.

Upon my return, I became a member of the National high command, an

organisation that was supervising the activities of people. I was

arrested together with Madiba, and we were charged. We were charged

with attempting to overthrow the government. We were eventually found

guilty and sentenced to life in prison on Robben Island. I occupied

the cell next to that of Madiba In prison, Madiba digs you `` exuded

leadership based on collective thinking.

Without Madiba's ongoing ideas, for that I cannot thank him enough. I am

certain many people have been fortunate enough to benefit from his

example. Many have strived to emulate the great man. I am told my

time is up. But it should be our collective wisdom, conviction and

resolve and the community of nations to uphold the values of Nelson

Mandela. God bless Madiba. God bless your soul. May his soul rest in

peace. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Andrew

Mlangeni. All those who loved Madiba I hear the morning indignity. We

would like to call Makgatho Mandela to come and pay tribute on behalf of

the family. President of the public of South

Africa, , President Jacob Zuma, eminent presidents, ladies and

gentlemen. On occasions such as this, charged with raw emotions,

with sorrow and anguish, official salutations have already been

expressed on this solemn occasion. We pay tribute here at this venue

and dedicated venues around South Africa, and via television and the

World Wide Web to the great man, but World Wide Web to the great man, but

also to celebrate a glorious life well lived. Today, more than any

other feeling my family holds is thankfulness for a wonderful life.

On behalf of the family, we take this opportunity to extend our

sincere gratitude to the religious communities and various other

communities around the globe for their thoughts, prayers and messages

and solidarity which they have generously extended to us. Our

burden of pain and sorrow is lessened I the outpouring national

and international grief for our father and elder. We have always

been mindful that we share Madiba with the rest of South Africa,

Africa and the rest of the world. Indeed, Madiba was a great man, but

was humble in all things. He saw his greatness not as a means to dominate

or to have a sense of superiority over others, but as a means to make

all men and women equal so that their lives could be lived to their

fullest human potential. To him, fullest human potential. To him,

life was all about service to others, and setting souls and bodies

free. This is what Mandela's life was about. That was his vision for

South Africa and Africa, and his legacy leaves us all to carry on. In

his lifetime, Madiba mingled with kings, queens and presidents. Prime

ministers, captains of industries. At the core of his being was the man

of the people. A simple man and one who knew that no matter how many

accolades he obtained in life, he knew where he belonged. He was a son

of Africa, a descendant of a great king. You will always be remembered.

As Mandela would have reached it, here this morning are the week, the

rich and the poor, the mighty and the ordinary, to mourn this person

from the African soil. I am sure he is smiling as he looks down on the

multitude of faces gathered here. This is what he strove for, the

equality of man. We were blessed to be associated with this amazing icon

and to have his legacy is the most precious gift distilled upon us all.

As we left our eyes to the dawning of a new era with out Madiba at our

side, we hope we will join us with the prayer and support demonstrated

in every corner of this land and the far`flung corners of the world. This

is a true reflection of all that Madiba stood for. He stood for

peace, justice and unity of all mankind. Let us keep his dream alive

in the way in which we honour the humanity in each other, in the way

in which we reach out to the humanity in each other, and the way

in which we help the forgotten. In this regard, we, the Mandela

family, enter into a solemn covenant with you that we will recommit

ourselves to the values and the ideas Madiba stood for. We hope that

you will continue to stand by us, encourage us, guide us, and because

of you as a family, we have no option but to follow the legacy of

Nelson Mandela. Let the word go beyond our borders, we do not dare

not hold up his legacy. He taught the next generation of leaders, who

must seek to make the world a better place. Friends, at long last, there

has been the final call on our brother's glorious life. He is gone

from before our eyes but never from our hearts and minds. As we mourn

today, let us not for get in many tomorrow's that the greatest witness

to his life is for us all to live in testament to his magnificent legacy.

Although he no longer walks among us, he has left us reconciliation.

His journey must continue. It falls upon us, to all nations great and

small, to all people far and wide, let us dedicate ourselves to

continuing the journey in which we travelled together to a world in

which harmony prevails. SPEAKS IN NATIVE

We have a number of guests from all over the world. We have well over 91

countries that have sent delegations and we would like to thank them for

being here. We have countries such as Afghanistan, Angola, Algeria,

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bangladesh,

Barbados, United Arab Emirates, Belgium and many others will

continue acknowledging this as we move on. With a view on catching up

on lost time, we are going to call upon Madiba's grandchildren. Madiba

had 18 grandchildren and 12 great`grandchildren. We are going to

call several of them. They are going to pay tribute to their grandfather

and great`grandfather. I call them to come to the stage and express

their tribute to their grandfather. On behalf of of the family I would

like to thank all of the heads of states. Struck by lightning bolt in

the dead of night, days disorientated, grappling with

emotions, struggling to bid farewell to any mortal, caught in the world

learned, what do I do? I need a home. When sadness and celebrations

con mingle, the body shudders, shakes and implodes. Special wins no

memories. You are lodged in our memories. Utah over the world like a

comic, leaving streaks of light for us to follow. We salute you. Madiba.

SPEAKS IN NATIVE TONGUE. A colossus, he stole the fire from

the gods to light our path from freedom. He lit bar stools to cook a

meal of peace and reconciliation. Ash Mac he let our stoves. Shall we

walk in his footsteps? Madiba, they say you are a brilliant man. They

say, you are a wise man. You reminded them of the otherwise men.

`` other wise men. They say you are resilient, was Oliver Tambo not more

resilient? You are a mirror that reflects the glory of mind and

heart. The retort, my people reflect the splendours of our dreams. You

have taught us that. A group of trees break the wind, but the one

that towers above the rest is broken by the wind. Child of the land,

child of dreams of a future where black and white, richer and poorer,

men, women and children must live side`by`side dreaming the same

dream, and we salute you. Thank you very much. Can I ask that

we should show discipline, the same level of discipline that Madiba

exuded, when we applaud let us applauds as someone has spoken and

behind me, I know that... APPLAUSE.

Behind me, there are people who are enthusiastic. Can I ask for

discipline, please? There are people behind me who are very

enthusiastic, who loved Madiba dearly. Can we all be disciplined,

please? I now ask the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr

Ban Ki`Moon, to come and pay tribute on behalf of of the United Nations.

Your accident sea, president of South Africa, loving family of

Nelson Mandela, your Highnesses, Nelson Mandela, your Highnesses

heads of state and government, dear citizens of South Africa, ladies and

gentlemen, I am deeply honoured to participate in this memory and

service for the former president, Nelson Mandela. We join together in

sorrow in celebration of a mighty life. What a wondrous display of

this rainbow nation. In nature, a rainbow in merges from rain and

sorrow. It is that blending of the symbol of our grief and gratitude

that I feel today. We will see the rainbow soon. Through the reign of

sadness, a rainbow here's our hearts. I offer my deepest pond

rinses to Graca Machel and the Mandela family, to Winnie

Mandela... APPLAUSE.

And the Mandela's larger family the people of South Africa. Ladies and

gentlemen, this stadium holds tens of thousands of people but even an

arena as big as the African continent could not contain our pain

today. South Africa has lost a hero. They have lost a father. The

world has lost a beloved friend and mentor. Nelson Mandela was more than

one of the greatest leaders of our time, he was one of our greatest

teachers. He taught by example. He sacrificed so much and was willing

to give up everything here for freedom and equality, for democracy

and justice. His compassion stands out most. He was angry at

injustice, not at individuals. He hated hatred, not the people caught

up in it. He showed an awesome power to connect people with each other

and with the true meaning of peace. That was his unique gift, and that

was the lesson he shared with all of humankind. Look around this stadium

and this stage. We see people representing many points of view,

and people from all walks of life. All are here and United today. He

left deep roots that reach across the country. Ladies and gentlemen,

South Africa's democratic transformation was a victory by and

for South Africans. But it was also a triumph for the ideals of the

United Nations, and for anyone anywhere who has ever faced the

poison of prejudice. The United Nations stood side`by`side with

Nelson Mandela and the people of South Africa in the fight against

apartheid. We used every tool we had. Sanctions, arms embargo, sports

or `` boycott. We spoke up loud and clear around the world. We continue

to look for prosperity, equality, peace. Nelson Mandela showed us the

way with a heart larger than this stadium, and an infectious smile. It

is lit up the world. Nelson Mandela is at rest. His long walk is

complete. Let us now be inspired by the spirit he awakened in all of us,

the people of hope. Nelson Mandela fought throughout his life for each

and everyone of us. It is the duty of all of us to love him, to keep

his memory alive in our heart and to embody his example in our lives.

his memory alive in our heart and to embody his example in our lives May

he rest in peace and in eternity. As we continue to welcome our

dignitaries from all over the world, we would like to acknowledge

his Excellency Mr Mohamed Abdelaziz, the president of

Equatorial Guinea, the president from the Republic of Uganda, Mr

Robert Mugabe, President Alba share from Saddam. His Royal Highness King

Philip of Belgium, the president of the Republic of Congo, the president

of Djibouti. We welcome the Queen and the President from Jordan, His

Royal Highness grand Duke Henry of Luxembourg, the Honourable Prime

Minister of Trinidad and Tobago his Excellency the President of the

Seychelles, the president of the European Union, Mr Hamid Karzai of

Afghanistan, President Mohammed Abbas from Palestine, the president

of Mozambique, Abbas from Palestine, the president

JON SOPEL: We are hearing a long list of the dignitaries that are

attending, heads of government, and ex`presidents. It is just worth

making the point that every time that President Jacob Zuma's name has

been mentioned, the current president of South Africa, it has

been greeted by booing from the audience, in marked contrast to some

of the cheering that has run out for names like Barack Obama and the

Zimbabwe leader, Robert Mugabe, and I'm sure Ban Ki`Moon would have been

delighted by the reception that he was accorded as well. You can see

that the Clintons have arrived. And there we see some of the French

leaders, and still to come, we are going to be hearing in a moment from

President Barack Obama himself as well as another of otherworldly

does. But let's take you back inside the stadium.

We will call upon a tribute from the AAU commission.

# Odes to Africa, believe the burning sun.

# Where a host of hearts waiting to be won.

# Many lives have passed away # And many hopes.

# Many voices crying now. # To the living God.

# Breathes a prayer for Africa. # God the Father's love.

# Can reach down and less all hearts.

# From his heaven above. # And when lips are owned by grace.

# They so sweetly seeing. # Pray for peace in Africa.

# To the loving God. # Tell me, Lord Jesus.

# God bless Africa. # Tell me Lord Jesus.

# In the hills and waters. # God bless Africa.

# Her sons and daughters. JON SOPEL: We seem to have lost the

feed again from the stadium. I think it may have come back now. Let's go

back. Long live Nelson Mandela, long

live! Long live Nelson Mandela, long live! Can we appeal for those behind

the stage to please tone down. Long live Nelson Mandela, long live! Can

we appeal for those behind the stage as Dr Zuma is now on the stage.

I thank you, programme director his Excellency President Jacob Zuma,

your Majesty is, your Highness is, your Excellencies, heads of

government. JON SOPEL: A little confusion in the

handover, with Sue `` Cyril Ramaphosa asking people to be more

respectful when President Jacob Zuma's name is mentioned. Letters to

go back to listen to the tribute by the African union commission chair,

although I should say that... We are celebrating the life of a

gallant fighter, ANC leader, leader of the South African people as a

whole, leader of the African people and the rest of the world. We stand

proud of you, Madiba. Who represents the best pan African values of

freedom, solidarity, service to the people, equality, sacrifice and

defence of the human dignity. Throughout his life, he lived these

values, always willing to serve, prepared to listen and respect all

views, including those that differed from his. His humanity, compassion,

commitment, courage and openness meant that working with him and

engaging with him, talking to him with always a lesson `` was always a

lesson. At the same time, he could be resolutely firm. He could stand

his ground, E specially when it came to the defence of the poor. ``

especially. He is among the ranks of African heroes whose commitment to

equality and justice made steadfast throughout their lives. As one of

the young militants of the ANC Youth League, he said he understood that

South Africa's struggles were closely linked to struggles of the

oppressed people across Africa. And indeed, the world. He said in 1 51,

history is on the side of the oppressed. The growing pan African

movement, the increasing number of independent African countries and

the unflinching solidarity of the struggles of those still under the

yoke of oppression was a source of inspiration to him and his peers. It

was this solidarity that Madiba counted on when he was sent to

mobilise a plan for South Africa's armed struggle. It took him across

the continent, to Ethiopia, eejit, `` , Senegal, and many others.

Wherever he went, doors were opened. He got military training and support

for the struggle. When our organisation was banned and our

leaders were arrested, our continent became home to freedom fighters from

across South Africa. A number of those countries became targets.

Thus, when Madiba took his seat as the first democratic and nonracial

president of South Africa, in 1 94, president of South Africa, in 1 94,

he paid tribute to our common African struggles when he said, I

quote, we are here today not to thank, dear brothers and sisters,

because such thanks would be displaced. We are here to salute and

congratulate you for the most magnificent and historical victory

over and inhuman system whose very name was tyranny and injustice. When

the history of our struggle is written, it will tell a glorious

tale of African solidarity, of African adherence to principal. It

will tell a story of sacrifice from the peoples of our continent, who

ensured that crimes of humanity became a thing of the past. Africans

surrendered the lives of their children so that all men could be

free. She gave of her limited wealth and resources so that all of Africa

should be liberated. During his presidency, Mandela Champion

Security on the continent and passionately championed campaigns

for Africa's development. Through a life of service and struggle, his

relationship with all humanity, he shaped the history not only of South

Africa and Africa, but also of the world. Today, as we bid farewell to

this great pan African hero, Africa recalls Madiba's words during his

inauguration ` the time for the healing of the wounds has come, the

moment to bridge the chasm that divides us has come.

Let me bring in our world affairs editor, John Simpson. There have

been technical problems, there is driving rain and it is a cold day,

but I imagine if you are a South African or an African, you feel a

sense of immense pride? Enormous pride. Who else could have attracted

so many foreign leaders to one place in the centre of Soweto? Only one

person. And that sheds a radiance over South Africa in general. It

gives people a sense of the significance of their country on a

world stage, something that most people here do not have much

awareness of. This is a day for celebrating that huge international

emotion in South Africa. We heard the crowd booing for Jacob Zuma and

one of the opposition politicians. Yes, Julius Malabar. This is

politician `` politics continuing as we watched. I thought it would go

quiet for today and they would concentrate on listening to their

praises, but that is what is coming on. You can see in the pictures, you

on. You can see in the pictures you can see people waving and chanting.

When Robert Mugabe came up, people were cheering for him. When Jacob

Zuma's name comes up, he was booed. We should not take this up as an ant

type ANC `` anti`ANC rally, it is a temporary moment and they have got

the opportunity to express their feelings. As we look at the picture

of Mandela in the stadium, part of today is that the South African

public would like to see a reclamation of some of the

principles of Nelson Mandela, the integrity, the bringing people

together, honesty and public life and all the rest of it. Wouldn't we

all, really? That is a worldwide phenomenon and that is why people

around the world are watching this today. They believe that Nelson

Mandela represented those higher qualities, way above the normal

political series. As a politician, it is remarkable that as we watch

names and reputations get shredded by time, does the image become even

more burnished? With Nelson Mandela, it did. In purely practical terms,

he was president for one term. He left at a time when things were

still at a very high pitch in terms of the emotion about the handover

and the change. On the one hand, people were glory in what had

happened and on the other, people deeply relieved by it all. Then he

went into retirement and other people had to go through more

difficult times. I think there is a musical interlude. Straight after

that, I think we will be hearing from President Obama who was not in

the stadium when the memorial service got underway. The service

began an hour late and proceeded through a long welcome, and then

Barack Obama, we understood he was going to land in Marine One beside

the stadium. I think we are expecting him to speak after this

musical interlude. John Simpson, expecting him to speak after this

musical interlude. John Simpson, it is clear... I think we can see

Barack Obama walking towards the podium, where he will address the

crowds. Let's just here. He is jogging up. He is still youthful, it

is like he is still campaigning. jogging up. He is still youthful, it

is like he is still campaigning. A lot of people are campaigning in one

sense or another. Everybody wants a little bit of that Mandela magic.

What else would bring the president of Cuba and the president of the

United States on to the same platform? It is true, all of the

other 91 figures that are here today are the same. It was picked up that

he kissed Dilma Rousseff on the cheeks. I think they have agreed not

to blame each other. You can see him lingering with FW de Klerk, the

president of South Africa who was part of the transition of power to a

system where it was truly one person, one vote in the presidential

election in 1994. Barack Obama, shaking hands with more or less

everyone. I wonder if he will shake hands with Robert Mugabe? He has got

a great knack of getting his hand and before they notice and before

they notice, people have shaken hands with him. Barack Obama has

taken his seat and is waiting to be called to deliver his tribute to

Nelson Mandela. One wonders whether the first black South African

president actually made it a little bit easier in 2008 for the United

States to have its first black president. The crowd, still

excited, despite how wet they must be. Good for him for just standing

out in it in only a jacket. He keeps getting away from the umbrella! It

is a day of huge emotion for these people. There is sadness but there

is an overwhelming sense of joy. A people. There is sadness but there

is an overwhelming sense of joy A is an overwhelming sense of joy A

pride as well, I think. It is joy and pride. He was the father of a

nation, there is no question about it, and he will always have that

status, like Gandhi has in India. There are people who are praised in

their lifetimes and then three are four years after they have gone

they are forgotten, but I do not think it will happen in his case.

Thank you very much. That was a collaboration between joyous

celebration and Cam Franklin from the United States. We would now like

to welcome to the stage and to the podium and ask him to address us,

President Barack Obama. APPLAUSE

Thank you. APPLAUSE

Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

The Graca Machel and the Mandela family, the President Zuma and

members of the government to heads of state and government, past and

present, distinguished guests, it is a singular honour to be with you

today. To celebrate a life like no other. To the people of South

Africa... APPLAUSE

People of every race and every walk of life, the world thanks you for

sharing Nelson Mandela with us. His struggle was your struggle. His

triumph was your Triumph. Your dignity and your hope found

expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy, is his

cherished legacy. It is hard to eulogise any man, the capture in

words not just the facts and the date that make life, but the

essential truth of a person, their private joys and sorrow Pru ``

sorrows, the private moments that eliminate someone's soul. He moved a

nation towards justice, and in the process, moved billions around the

world. Born during World War I, far from the corridors of power, a boy

raised herding cattle. Madiba would emerge as the last great liberator

of the 20th century. Like Gandhi, he would lead a resistance movement, a

movement that had its start had little prospect of success. Like Dr

King, he would give hope and voice to the claims of the oppressed and

hope of racial justice. He would in due a brutal imprisonment that began

in the time of Kennedy and Khrushchev and reached the final

days of the Cold War. Emerging from prison, he would like Abraham

Lincoln holed his country together when it threatened to break apart.

And like America's founding fathers, he would erect a

constitutional order to preserve freedom for future generations. A

commitment to democracy and rule of law ratified not only by his

election but by his willingness to step down from power after only one

term. Given the sweep of his life, the

scope of his accomplishments, the adoration that he so rightly earned,

it is Tim in to remember Nelson Mandela as an icon, smiling and

Serena, detached from the tawdry affairs of lesser men, but Madiba

strongly resisted such an image. Instead, Madiba insisted on sharing

with us his hope and fears, his miscalculations as long as is his

victories. I am not a saint, he said, unless you think of a saint is

a sinner who keeps on trying. And it was precisely because he could admit

the imperfection, because he could be so full of good humour, even

mischief, despite the heavy burdens that he carried, that we loved him

so. He was not a bust made of marble, he was a man of flesh and

blood, a son and a husband, a father and a friend. And that is why we

learned so much from him, and that is why we can learn from him still,

for nothing he achieved was inevitable. The arc of his life, a

man who earned his place in history through struggle and shrewdness and

persistence and faith. He tells us what is possible, not just in the

pages of history books but in our own lives as well. Mandela showed us

the power of action, of taking risks on behalf of our ideals. Perhaps he

was right that he in in heritage proud rebelliousness, a stubborn

sense of fairness, and we know he shared with millions of black South

Africans the anger born of a thousand slights, a thousand

indignities, a thousand unremembered moments, a desire to fight the

system that imprisoned my people, he said. Like other early giants of the

ANC, Madiba disciplined his anger and

channelled his desire to fight into strategies for action and platforms,

so that men and women could stand up for their God`given dignity. He

accepted the consequences of his actions, knowing that standing up to

in justice carries a price. " I have fought against white domination and

I have fought against black domination. I cherish the idea of a

free society in which all persons live with equal opportunities. It is

an ideal which I hope to live for and achieve, and it is an ideal for

which I am prepared to die. " APPLAUSE

Mandela taught us the power of action, but he also taught us the

power of ideas. The importance of reason and argument, the need to

study not only those who you agree with but also those who you don t

agree with. He understood that ideas cannot be contained by prison

walls. He turned his trial into an indictment of apartheid because of

his eloquence and passion, but also his training as an advocate. He used

decades of prison to sharpen his arguments, but also to take his

first for knowledge to others in the movement, and he learned the

language and the customs of his oppressors so that one day he might

better conveyed to them how their own freedom depended upon his.

Mandela demonstrated that action and ideas are not enough, no matter how

right they must also be chiselled in the mall and institutions. He was

practical, testing his beliefs against the hard surface of

circumstance and history. On core principles, he was an yielding,

which is why he could rebuff offers of unconditional release, reminding

the apartheid regime that prisoners cannot enter into contracts. But as

he showed in painstakingly go she Asian is `` negotiations that he was

not afraid to compromise for the sake of a larger goal. The

Constitution that emerged was worthy of this multiracial democracy, true

to his division of laws that protect minority as well as majority

rights, and those of every South African. And finally, Mandela

understood the ties that bind the human spirit. There is a word in

South Africa, Ubuntu. A word that captures Mandela's greatest gift.

His recognition that we are all bound together in ways that are

invisible to the eye, but there is a oneness to humanity, that we achieve

ourselves by sharing ourselves with others and caring for those around

us. We can never know how much of this came from him or was shaped in

a dark and solitary cell. But we remember the gestures, large and

small, introducing his jailers as honoured guest at his inauguration,

taking a pitch in a Springbok uniform, turning his family's

heartbreak into a call to confront HIV and aids, that revealed the

depth to his understanding will stop he not only embodied Ubuntu, he

taught millions to find that within themselves. It took a man like

Madiba the free not just the prisoner but the jailer as well to

prisoner but the jailer as well, to show that you must trust others so

that they may trust you, to teach that reconciliation is not a matter

of ignoring a crawl past `` a cruel past, but including it. For the

people of South Africa, for those he inspired around the globe, Madiba's

passing is rightly a time of mourning and a time to celebrate his

life. But I believe it should also give us a time of reflection. We

must ask, how well have I applied his lessons to my life? It is a

question I ask myself. As a man and as a president. We know that, like

South Africa, the United States had to overcome centuries of racial

subjugation. As was true here, it took sacrifice, the sacrifices of

countless people, known and unknown, to see the dawn of a new

day. Michelle and I are beneficiaries of that struggle. But

in America and in South Africa, and in countries all around the globe,

we cannot allow our progress to cloud the fact that our work is not

yet done. The struggles that follow the victory of equality may not be

as filled with drama as those that came before, but they are no less

important. For around the world today, we still see children

suffering from hunger and disease, we still see rundown schools, we

still see young people without prospects for the future. Around the

world today, men and women are still in prison for their political

beliefs, and are still persecuted for what they look like and how they

worship and who they love. That is happening today.

APPLAUSE And so, we, too, must act on behalf

of justice. We must act on behalf of peace. There are too many people who

passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge growing

inequality. There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with

Madiba's struggle for freedom to not tolerate the same from their own

people. `` but do not tolerate. There are too many of us, too many

of those on the sidelines, convert a ball in complacency or cynicism. ``

of double. The questions we face today, how to

uphold freedom and human rights, The questions we face today, how to

uphold freedom and human rights how uphold freedom and human rights, how

to end conflict and sectarian war, these things do not have easy

answers. There are no easy answers in front of a child born in World

War I. Nelson Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible

until it is done. South Africa shows that is true. South Africa shows we

can change. It shows we can choose their world a fight not only by our

differences but are common hopes. We can choose a world defined not by

conflict, but by peace and justice and opportunity. We will never see

the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people

of Africa and the young people around the world, you, too, can make

his life's work your own. Over 0 years ago, whilst still a student, I

learned of Nelson Mandela and the struggles taking place in this

beautiful land. It stirred something in me. It woke me up to my

responsibilities to others and to myself and it set me on an

improbable journey that finds me here today. And while I will always

fall short of Madiba's example, he makes me want to be a better man. He

speaks to what is best inside us. After this great Liberator is led to

rest `` laid to rest, and when we have returned to our cities and

villages and rejoined our daily routines, let us search for his

strength. Let us search for his largeness of spirit somewhere inside

ourselves. And when the night grows dark, and injustice weighs heavy on

our hearts, when our best laid plans seem beyond our reach, let us think

of Madiba and the words that brought comfort within the four walls of his

cell ` it matters not how charged the punishment, I am the master of

my fate, I am the captain of my soul. What a magnificent soul it

was. We will miss him deeply. God bless the memory of Nelson Mandela.

May God bless the people of South Africa.

We would like to thank President Barack Obama for his comforting

words. We now move on with our programme and acknowledge the

presence of a number of other world leaders who have graced our land to

come and pay tribute to Nelson Mandela. His Excellency, the

President of Portugal is here... President of Portugal is here..

Let's reflect on the speech from Barack Obama, which almost took on

the form of a lecture to other leaders around the world, not just

to talk about the principles of Madiba, but to live them and

exercise them in their judgement as politicians in charge of whatever

countries they may be ruling. It was a powerful speech that Obama

delivered and it was given a standing over a nation in the VIP

area, including from George W Bush, who also stood at the end of that

speech. You can see in the background, a number of the other

dignitaries. Let's get a flavour of the atmosphere in the stadium.

Yes, people have been sitting here listening to that speech of Barack

Obama with such intention. Of course, when he was introduced as a

son of the African soil, that went down incredibly well. Whenever he

has come to the continent, people have intended to adopt him.

Listening to the speech, and we did not get it all because the acoustics

are not great in the stadium, listening to it was our

correspondent in Johannesburg. How important do you think it would have

been two people watching the television to have Barack Obama, the

television to have Barack Obama the president of the, here today? `` the

president of the year and is. We had a lot of speakers before him. There

was not that much of a chair. When he came up, there was huge applause.

People loved what he had to say. he came up, there was huge applause.

People loved what he had to say He People loved what he had to say. He

was acknowledging other South African heroes, those who struggled

with Nelson Mandela. They enjoyed it when he mentioned the spirit of

humanity, you cannot be fully me until I am fully use. The idea that

he can fly from America and talk about this, this enthused the crowd,

even when the rain was pelting down. Here, he said to the young people

not just of South Africa , but of the continent, you can strive for

greatness. When he was introduced, he was introduced as a son of

Africa. People feel a great deal of affection for him and his wife,

because Michelle Obama is here as well. I know this is a memorial

service for Nelson Mandela to remember his extraordinary life,

service for Nelson Mandela to remember his extraordinary life but

remember his extraordinary life, but we do have to mention the fact, and

it was brought up earlier in the programme, that when President Jacob

Zuma is shown on the screens in the stadium, there is doing. Let's not

get into too much detail, but why are these people going? `` booing.

What we have here is the politics of the African National Congress. It

speaks to the story in the headlines, about President Jacob

Zuma being accused of taking... Let me ring in our world affairs

editor, John Simpson. Fascinating speech? Fascinating, and superb He

speech? Fascinating, and superb. He is a wonderful speech`maker. I have

never heard him give a better speech. The weight that he brought

in the people, he was on their side so much. He was using expressions

that they would know here as specifically for them, such as

talking about the wholeness of people. I thought it was superb.

talking about the wholeness of people. I thought it was superb I

loved the way that knowing some of the leaders who are here, he said it

was not just enough to outdoor Mandela, but you have to do what he

said. Yes, it was a eulogy and it was in praise of a remarkable life,

but he also had the argument to make with the people who were there ` we

have all got to learn to be better and to learn from the example of

Mandela. He said twice, I think, I Mandela. He said twice, I think I

want to be a better person along the lines of Nelson Mandela. It was

personal to him and it was personal to the leaders there and it was

personally intended to the whole nation of South Africa. I think it

will go down extraordinarily well. It is also interesting, you heard

Obama talking about when he first learned about Mandela when he was a

student. The political class of two day have all grown up in the giant

shadow cast by him. `` the political class of today. They want to be seen

as following in some small way the lead that Mandela has given them. He

has laid out a wafer leaders of our country to behave to all of the

people of the country. `` a way for leaders. He said, he freed not only

the prisoners but also the jailers. I have never heard it expressed so

well. He is talking to the whole of South Africa, I think. The other

point he was making, part of Mandela's experience on Robben

Island, the idea that you understand your Polmont. You try and read into

the mind of your opponent to understand them better. That was the

key to his view of what happened when the National party got

underway? The kind of revelation that Nelson Mandela achieved during

his 27 years was to separate the individuals, the people, from the

principles. He realised that it was possible to talk to people without

having to always fight against them. I think that was his key

understanding, that everyone else went through. He did not going to

prison without understanding, he went in with bitterness and it took

some time to get rid of. When you read his memoirs, you realise that

he fought against being consumed by bitterness. When he came out, he did

not want to talk about the Private should incite. `` privations

inside. Mandela himself did not dwell on it. Other people wanted it

out of their system. There was a lot of treatment which was very harsh

and cruel, particularly in the early years, until somehow or another, one

years, until somehow or another one of his greatest achievements was to

win over his jailers and make the politicians realise that they had

got somebody of huge important in prison that they had to release.

got somebody of huge important in prison that they had to release And

prison that they had to release. And so the story goes, even the most

die`hard opponent of the ANC was one around to Mandela during that time

in prison. He won his jailers over with his charm. Let's go back to the

stadium to join George al Gaya `` my collie, who is there for us. `` my

colleague. You are watching the Nelson Mandela

memorial service here in Soweto. With here is our correspondent in

Johannesburg. We were talking about how we saw on the screens the faces

of