zuma. >> shortly., you saw her coming up, to the podium and zuma will be speaking and by way of history she was a strong antiapartheid activist and under ground member of the national congress and currently dr. zuma is the chair woman of the african commission, in 2012 she was the first woman to lead the commission and appointed minister of health during nelson mandela cabinet in 1994 and during her tenure she desegregated the health system and introduced access to free basic healthcare. she was appointed minister of foreign affairs by the president in 1999 and in that role she promoted peace, human rights and more collective development for the continent and taken to the stage moments ago and let's listen in to her tribute to her former boss and the former president. >> i sent you the program director, zuma, your majesty and national dignatory, members of the nation and committee of the nc and its league, members of the south african government and fellow mourners. from north to south, from east centr

. >> have you heard from zuma? >> i have heard indirectly from president zuma who gave me a lot of time, eight interviews, more time than anybody else has ever had from him. and i kind of expected, i don't know, actually, what i expected. he's still trying to absorb what he thinks of the portrait that's been drawn of him, is the best way to put it. >> and my final question is, as i read the book, i couldn't help but think of the arab spring and sort of what it means to come out of this, you know, very difficult period as a nation and try to find your way to some kind of democratic rule. and i guess given your experience in south africa, what are the lessons that you see for a country like egypt, for instance? >> yeah. i think there are a well bunch as we think about parts of the world where particularly there's a big generational claim, a big generational grievance on cultural grounds, economic grounds and the rest. one is that it's not -- revolt isn't necessarily driven by economic hardship. the unemployment rate

it's been an important speech for jacob zuma to deliver. of course you remember at the public memorial service he was booed. that's embarrassing, humiliating and took him and the other a.n.c. leaders by surprise. they had to go into the crowd and tell people to keep it down, and publicly reprimanded the crowd saying, "you must show respect." that is the freedom of expression and freedom of speech that nelson mandela went to prison for, being exercised against the party that he loved. this was on important speech for jacob zuma, and he did better. he sang, which the crowd loves, and was speaking more from the heart, more personally, which is what people want to hear from the president at this time, reassurance that the party of nelson mandela is in safe hands. however, outside of this arena and, you know, this week of remembering and celebrating, we know that the african national congress is in trouble. there are widespread allegations of corruption. jacob zuma has been facing difficulty on the spending of taxpayers' dollars on his home. the

his death announced by south african president, jacob zuma. reaction is pouring in from around the world and here at home, jimmy carter just released this statement about mandela's death. we are deeply saddened by the death of nelson mandela. the people of south africa lost a great leader. i was gratified to work with him through the resolution of conflicts and advance social justice and human rights. we extend our heart felt condolences to his family during this difficult time. the words of former president, jimmy carter. >> on massachusetts avenue, you can see the barbed wire fences, the construction going on around the south african embassy. he had fences around him for 27 years and prison walls as well. those years quiet, suffering, just one of the many pressures on south africa's government. public discussion of mandela was illegal, allowed very few prisoners during that time. as we look at the live pictures in johannesburg, crowds are gathering live. scott macfarlane has more reaction still coming in. scott? >> spent a lot of time coveri

we will hear from president zuma and president obama. a huge cheer went up when the chinese vice president came in. i think he is here representing china. the chinese have invested so much in africa. >> all across south africa. >> they have taken over if not taken over u.s. influence in the investment here. >> from a foreign policy perspective this country and much of africa has been turning east and they are very acutely aware for themselves that the financial and diplomatic clout that they look to in the future comes from china. >> one person not here is the dalai lama. government here said they didn't have time to process his visa basically. the real reason is they didn't want to insult china. >> that has happened before because the dalai lama was also defected from going to his 80th celebration a few years ago. the authorities have used this excuse essentially of visa processing to avoid a rather sticky diplomatic question. >> there is archbishop tutu. >> kofi annan. >> a monitor here that is difficult to see. >> they are from the sa

let's hear more about the call to south african president jacob zuma. >> it was shortly after jacob zumannounced the passing of nelson mandela to south africa and the world that president obama took to the briefing room to talk about his reminiscenses and everything that nelson mandela meant to him. some time in the evening, you are right. the president placed a phone call to jacob zuma. he expressed condolences from himself and michelle obama. he called nelson mandela a man of kindness and humility, influencing his own life, and the president only met nelson mandela one time as a senator. he had visited south africa twice, once as a senator and once this past june with his family, unable to meet the ailing nelson mandela at this point. the president took to the briefing room, talked about the inspiration that nelson mandela was for him, talked about the anecdote. nelson mandela and a struggle against apartheid, inspired president obama as a student in the late '70s, and early '80s, to become involved in politics for the first time. let's listen to what obama had to say. >> we will not s

nonetheless you could see how president zuma was choked up.imes he stopped when he was describing the founding democratic society africa passed on, departed peacefully. you can see the joy on the people's faces, also, outside his house just as the pictures show they are reflecting what he reflected on them throughout his entire time with the people of south africa. he was this incredibly happy presence. it's unusual for a politician to have that relationship with people. for me, i guess, you can only be in awe, like everybody has said up until now, because it is not an exaggerate and not a cliche. these towering figures come along once in a lifetime, not even a lifetime. once in many lifetimes. he is the giant of the 20th and 21st century. as president obama said and others, the world has changed. he was able to come out of the prison after 27 years, knolls a prison, but as a part of the majority of the population of south africa that was being oppressed for decades by the minority. he was able to transform from being a lawyer to a political a

we believe that under the leadership of jacob zuma and the government of south africa the south african people will continue to make big fights forward along national rejuvenation and development. china stands ready to work with south africa to deepen china/south african benefits to that two countries and two people and make public contribution to the noble cause of world peace and development. >> finally i would like to say the great man has left, but nelson mandela's spirit, thank you all. [speaking in native tongue] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [speaking in native tongue] >> we welcome his excellency, the president of niger. the prime minister of lebanon. has excellent sleep, that his excellency, the prime minister of south sudan. and the prime minister and secretary general of the ruling party, from rwanda. his excellency, president of chad. and his excellency, the president of zambia. his excellency, the president of ireland. his excellency, the president of tunisia. his excellency, the president of guyana. and his excellency, the president and her royal highness, the prince in spain. honorable prime

four hours ago president zuma broke the news to the nation and broke the hearts of millions of south africans. although this news was entirely predictable. a 95-year-old man with a serious respiratory illness who has been in hospital and receiving high intensive care at home for six months, you know, it was predictable that he would at some point pass away, but nevertheless, it was still incredibly painful. perhaps the most mournful, the most sorrowful day in the history of modern south africa. the father of the nation, the man who gave black south africans dignity and liberty and gave white south africans a secure and relatively safe future in modern south africa. he's being mourned today. nelson mandela dead at the age of 95. >> rohit, thank you. and nbc special news correspondent charlene hunter galt is a journalist and as a citizen is among those best able to talk about nelson mandela's life and legacy. and charlene, while it's just been hours since we heard the news, rohit is write. we had a long time to prepare. your thoughts. >> in south africa, people rarely use the word deat

zuma, who i presume will introduce the president now. i am struck by the wonderful colors you can see throughout the stadium. >> michelle obama said when she went with her daughters, the main thing she wanted to say was thank you for the work you have done, the legacy you have left behind and the way you have changed my life and my husband. i couldn't think of many -- the only thing i wanted to say to him, to impress upon him, was how grateful we were to him in this country as well. she said it was a very special moment for her and her family. >> president obama said his first political act ever was protesting apartheid. that was his beginning moment in terms of getting involved in politics. there was a very deep connection between barack obama and nelson mandela as a role model. barack obama did not have a father of his own growing up. he viewed just asth madiba is viewed as a father in south africa, was a spiritual father for barack obama as he has written about in his own autobiography. >> i read that every day he protested the aparth

south africa, as it was saying under zuma has not lived up to its real potential.t certainly has in terms of racial harmony. look at the crowd, and there is so much more that south africa could be if they could really pull together all of the people and all of the economic potential there. >> andrea, thank you, and thank you for calling out the dignitaries as you saw them. gordon brown among them. he told a terrific antic tkoet about a phone call nelson mandela made to the queen of england, and called her elizabeth, and asked how the duke was doing, in his own style. now, toreants of rain. a really uncharacteristic day, the on set of summer, and we are fairly far north in south africa, and we want to remind our viewers, we are in the midst of live coverage of the enormous remembrance of nelson mandela in south africa. we are back and one of the notable things about today, it's the only other time we have had four living american presidents, the first one was back when king hussein of jordon passed away, and we had three presidents travel together after the assassin

frome news coming tonight south africa and president jacob zuma. scott thuman has the reaction from the newsroom, including from president obama. yes, a feeling of tremendous loss worldwide. the breaking news today, the announcement at age 95 nelson mandela has passed away. labeled,early understandably, the most heralded, accomplished, most below to fighter to end racism, that was his lifelong goal, and he succeeded in many ways, ending apartheid in south africa. in the past year, people had been very concerned about him. he spent several months in the at one point a candlelight vigil was held outside 24 hours straight in south africa. , spendings released the last several months being tended to around-the-clock, as many as to to doctors -- as 20 to doctors trying to take care of the icon. unfortunately, the last couple days his family made a clear things were not going well, then today the news. of the countless people who , president obama talked about the inspirations that were set into motion and fulfilled on so many levels by nelson mandela, a

zuma.yal highness, excellency of the diplomatic -- >> a member of the south african national defense force, an elder of the mandela family. >> on occasions such as this -- allow me to reflect on this occasion. [ inaudible ] >> i don't know if you can hear me. from our vantage point here, it sound like the general not getting a warm reception from the crowd. >> reporter: george, i'm not sure if it was him -- there was a moment when they put a picture on the jumbotron of a picture of the president of south african. [ inaudible ] >> reporter: i don't know if it's connected but that was the sense inside the stadium. we're talking about the relationship with the anc, it is strained at best. mandela is a reminder to many, in many ways he is separate and above the anc. interestingly enough, when mandela was in prison, it was forbidden in south africa to say his name in public, for his name to appear in print. there was a generation of south africans who had no idea who nelson mandela was. it's whe

his passing was announced late this afternoon by south african president jacob zuma. >> our nation has lost its

president jacob zuma, deputy president makalnta and former president bnaki.nk you, thank you, thank you. former president f.w. de klerk.

jacob zuma confirming that he had slipped away after a long illness. this was not a surprise. as we all know he's been gravely ill with this lung infection. and i think towards the end the drugs, the antibiotics just didn't work. his body just too frail. and he's surrounded by his family, we understand. but i think what is key moving on now, we know nelson mandela's body has been moved from his home to a mortuary in pretoria, to a military hospital in pretoria. it will stay there for the next few days where it will be embalmed. the next time you'll see him in the casket will be at a memorial service in the soccer city stadium where the world cup final was played, where there'll

arrived and president zuma, president of the country, was booed. that's a very interesting dynamic. >> this is a famous gospel song, and i'm frank mallicoat time is 4-- here >>> good morning everyone, it's tuesday, december 10th. i'm michelle griego. >> hi everyone, i'm frank mallicoat. nearly 4:30 on your tuesday and lout the door and -- out with door with a little traffic and weather. let's get it going. >> we're back in the deep freeze again this morning. it has been day after day of very cold temperatures down to 26 in concord right now. 24 in napa. and 24 degrees in santa vow s. the good news -- rosa. the good news is the cold snap will soon come to anened. >> thank god for seat warmers. >>> everything is good coming into san francisco. but we're getting word of a new accident on the opposite end. southbound 101 near eastbound 80. all the details on that coming up. >> thank you liz. >>> well happening right now, tens ofthousands of people and several world leaders including president obama honoring nelson mandela in south africa. you're lookin

president zuma and south , and family members of toson mandela i would like say my condolences for the invaluable loss of nelson mandela. ladies and gentlemen, heads of i bring you here today with feelings of deep sorrow for the government and the people of brazil. it was the passing away of a great leader, nelson mandela. the most outstanding personality of the 21st century nelson mandela led with passion and intelligence. he heaped up for human emancipation and the end of apartheid in south africa. fight, and the south african people as a whole, model foraradigm, a all those who fight for justice, freedom, and equality. apartheid defeated by mandela and the south african people was the most elaborate and cool form of inequality in modern times. this great leader had his eyes focused on the future of his country, of his people, and of all people. he also was a source of inspiration for the struggle in south america. madiba, as you affectionately call them, serves as an example. for the stoic, firm, patient. for the enlightened strength in his fight. for his deep commitment to , and ab

jacob zuma singing that song at the beginning of his eulogy was making clear the context in which nelson mandela should be remembered along with all the greatness he has achieved. i'm joined here by the chief executor of the nelson mandela foundation, one of the legacy bodies of nelson mandela and of his name. firstly, you watched the funeral and saw the respect, the dignity. what went through your mind when you saw nelson mandela finally go? >> i think it was a fitting tribute to the life well-lived. i think south africans have this image that we shouldn't just be crying at this moment and mourning his passing, but we should be celebrating because madiba got 95 years, but he also gave 67 years of his life of service. then he retired three times, and i think those three retirements were preparing us for what was coming. even when it came, you still had the sense of loss, the deep sense of loss. we feel left with that. some of the staff members of the nelson mandela foundation have served nelson mandela for over 20 years. it's encouraging to them to see how they have pulled together in th

. >> zuma. i think that is president zuma.ic backup we think came a motorcade. it was very exciting trying to get here. you got the impression that half the world was trying to get here, as well. there has been an elaborate credentialing process. there were lines of five and six hours to get credentials for news media. vips have car passes so they are coming up into what is the kind of covered entrance to this beautiful soccer stadium in soweto. they are all getting escorted into their seats. >> i came in just as you did. i was so struck by how much improvement has been made here in soweto. it is raining. i didn't have a rain coat so i stopped. the driver said there is a shopping center. we go in and every conceivable designer shop was in there. it was just amazing. and there weren't very many people because it was early in the morning. the driver told me by mid day it it would be packed. that tells you a little bit ome economy. >> absolutely. must be good news in there. >>> lester holt is back with us from inside the arena wh

compare that with president zuma whose leadership and whose government seems to lurch from crisis to crisis. there seems to be an overwhelming focus on scandals over personal enrichment, whether it's president zuma or those close to him. they seem to have according to many south africans, there is a real focus of this current government on the trappings of power, of using the state to protect the elite so at least to further the interest of the elites and president zuma. that is the kind of contradick and that's what south africans are seeing and saying has mandela's party lost its way. i think there's a lot of inner thinking, a lot of digestion of what south africa is now, what mandela wanted it to be, and what south africans wanted it to be 20 years ago, and i think many people here are not here just to mourn a man. they may be also mourning the vision of a country they hoped for, but also i think there's a lot of talk that there's a responsibility that they have to continue mandela's vision. that's an invigorated sense of enthusiasm and i think that's what's key. a lot of people s

you look at the leadership zuma versus mandela.doesn't seem as if this were and upward trend. >> that's true and that discrepancy is true. but it's also true that the standard of living of black south africans has risen considerably since 1993, that the number of black south africans with electricity and clean drinking water and in the education system, all of it's gone up. south africa when you look at it from the outside, a glass half empty, glass half empty viewpoint. but i think what's really going to be interesting goi ing forwa is in a sense a kind of custody battle for brand mandela who claims them as their real symbol. and for mandela, symbolism was his stuff in trade. he realized that he was this astonishingly powerful symbol. a and across the world, we all want to claim him. all other countries want to claim mandela he represents our better selves in that sense. but within south africa, the question is he now a national symbol or to what extent the anc keeps him as their symbol. to what extent can they keep him, what happ

behind zuma right now, you can see the orange seats. ceremonies and the rain and the security concerns played some part in a slightly thinner crowd than what was expected. >> behind president obama, however, it was full. >> it was. >> and people were dancing. there was a lot of revelry going on. >> there was. >> is it too much? are we overstating that when somebody passes you want to lionize them, make them even greater than they were? do you believe you can do that with nelson mandela? >> here is the thing. there will be people who say it's too much, both in south africa and around the world, in the united states, et cetera. the what we're reflecting is what south africa is doing, which is saying good-bye in a very prolonged and dignified way. they want to record in full honor, so to speak. television does this for many, many, many figures, people of less much stature than nelson mandela. people may have their opinions, but everybody has said this is really the example of the ages. when people in the united states look at some of the c

to graÇa machel and the mandela family, to president zuma and members of the government, to heads ofstate and government, past and present, distinguished guests -- it is a singular honour to be with you today, to celebrate a life unlike any other. to the people of south africa -- people of every race and 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 hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy. it is hard to eulogise any man to capture in words not just the facts and the dates that make a life, but the essential truth of a person -- their private joys and sorrows, the quiet moments and unique qualities that illuminate someone's soul. how much harder to do so for a giant of history, who moved a nation toward justice, and in the process moved billions around the world. born during world war one, far from the corridors of power, a boy raised herding cattle and tutored by elders of his thembu tribe -- madiba would emerge as the last grea

. >> he passed the mantle on to zuma. one term in office, everything he did changed that country forever. we don't want to be tool pollyannaish about it, that is a country with still a lot of challenges ahead from poverty to the income inequality to corruption and the like but he changed it from what it was into this what he wanted a rainbow society is what he wanted. it's not all there yet. >> they are still fighting very much to get their political rights, as well. there's, of course, an outpouring of affection for nelson mandela around the world but also in the united states. this is -- we don't have live pictures. i believe we'll get them later. this is the south african embassy on massachusetts avenue in washington, d.c. that is where there have been so many people coming forward,ent chaing, putting flowers and candles out to mem rate what is taking place, tributes near the statute of any son mandela. >> we will saul that in london, as well. there were people out there all day. robert ker now, our correspondent in ja

another statement from jacob sioux zuma.s lost its greatest son and he said our people lost a father, which is very -- not only was he. >> great quote. >> such a father figure for everybody around the world. he had such influence. >> no doubt about it. look at the "washington post" and the headline the nation's healer is dead. first quote from president obama. he no longer belongs to us. he belongs to the ages. that is a powerful, true quote. and the prisoner who became president, south africa's leader, a symbol of moral force. >> all of the things that he was, where he was iconic and legendary and he became such a big thing, the next headline from the new york daily news sums up what he was. it says nelson mandela 1918-2013, farewell dear friend and i think a lot of people were able to connect with him in such a way where they felt not only was he a mass pif man where they couldn't touch him but interconnected to our lives in a daily basis. >> the best of humanity right there. certainly will be missed and celebrated. we'll

and president zuma, when he's speaking zulu he's very dynamic. has to speak english and do it before an international audience off a paper, he's generally very uncomfortable. and of course this is an uncomfortable time in south africa. i can continue to say it's a young democracy approaching 20 years but they are things that are quite troublesome that most people here are talking about in the news and on the radio. although today was the day of memory of a great man. people did continue to talk about the huge numbers of unemployed people including the largest number of unemployed are youths who are being very poorly educated, if at all. there are rolling mass actions on a continuing basis. people protesting the lack of basic services. i think all of those things, i frankly was surprised that people booed president zuma because normally events like that are packed with people who support the african national congress the ruling party. so that came as a surprise to me on that level. but on the other level of disenchantment among people, i was not s

i'm trying to make it out. >> it was jacob zuma. >> we both thought it at the same time.just the been confirmed to us by producers, that is the current president of south africa, jacob zuma in that shot. it is important to point out to our viewers from around the world, you can hear the singing there and see the dancing. it may seem a lig jarring, but south africans sing, they sing whenner that happy, when they're sad. they sang a great amount for nelson mandela in prison and they are singing many of the same songs. >> listen to what they are doing now. [ music playing ] i guess one thing, too, south africans have had 26 weeks upset by the news mandela has finally passed away. as they are saying, 26 long weeks he has been gravely ill. he spent that time in hospital, three months in hospital. then they finally moved him to his home. he was under medical care. in many ways, he was on life support machines at some stage, he was taking a lot of drugs. he was on a dialysis machine. the news has been constantly in the headlines in south africa. so they had 26 weeks really to pr

jacob zuma called on the country to join together in morning. he attended a memorial mass with members of the mandela family in johannesburg. >> come together to pray. and hisct on him legacy, on his work. nation.ray also for our >> the stay of morning -- and this day of mourning is only the beginning. it is expected to last four weeks. >> and for the latest on the tensions in the east china sea, south korea is expanding its air defense zone in what is seen as a response to a similar move by china. the new zone includes territory that is claimed by both countries. >> at first glance it looks like isoil rig but this platform a research station. it is built on a submerged island 149 kilometers off the korean coast. china calls it suyan. last week they identified a zone that covers the site. now south korea has extended its zone to include it as well. japan's zone also controls the rock. the research station it is at the center of a territorial dispute. >> we do not think it will impact our relationship with china and japan. as we try to work for p

a few hours ago jacob zuma and 1ie mandela attended a church service in johannesburg. alan schauffler, how are they doing that? >> a day of memory, what apartheid was and how he acted to change it. and also, to reflect on the work that may be left, the work ahead. here in villa kazi street in suweto, this street has been filled all day long, chanting, singing, praising mandela. we've seen the african national conference, it has been a wonderful day here. i asked one woman if it was sad or happy and she said a little bit of both. she looked arnd saying, do you see anybody crying here, any tears? of course we didn't. it has been joyous in separating nelson mandela. >> let's talk about the religious leaders that are weighing in on this national day of prayer and remembrance. what are some of those messages? >> well, here's little quick tour around some of the houses of worship in the country. from nearby regina mundi, called nelson mandela moonlight. he paved the way for a better future but he can't do it alone. in kundu, mandela's ancestral home, there is still hope in t

we learned from president jacob zuma that mandela will be given a full state funeral on sunday, december 15. the white house has confirmed president obama and the first lady will travel to south africa next week to take part in memorial services. we will have full coverage and area begin in johannesburg -- johannesburg. >> they come from all walks of life and all communities to pay respects outside the home of nelson mandela. the sense of bereavement is palpable. to some, almost private and personal. together,so a coming a nation united in mourning but also in celebration of the life of the man they call madiba. >> people are celebrating the life of nelson mandela. i think he would want us to celebrate his life. >> we kept holding onto that and i hope with the spirit going [inaudible] prepares forfrica a state funeral of unprecedented proportions, what kind of nation mr. mandela leaves behind. is possible to overcome hatred and anger in order to build a new nation and a new society. lson mandela went to prison and a great young man. committed to letting his enemies by violence if necessa

jacob zuma arriving. of course, he will be delivering what is, i guess, referred to as a keynote address during this memorial service. at this soccer stadium, which has played so many moments during mandela's life. it seems fitting to have his memorial there. >> absolutely, john. there could not be a more fitting venue for this memorial service for nelson mandela. this is the site of nelson mandela's last public appearance. the closing stages of the 2010 world cup. that's when we saw him along with his wife on the back of a golf cart, if you will, wrapped up against the wall. scenes that touched the heart of many as they saw him. he looked frail. he was obviously advanced in his years. that was the last time we saw him in public in 2010. if you were to go back to time, this place behind me was also the scene of nelson mandela's first public speech. well, not first. the speech in the days after he was released. two days after he was released in february 1990. he addressed the crowds here in this stadium. s

the future of south africa now mandela has gone and, given the reaction we got -- we saw president zuma got in the stadium today. >> in a strange way, i think all of that says south africa's future is good. this is south africa where people can feel free without fear of recriminations and be let into a stadium where their political sentiments in an election season -- i believe it to use that occasion drive an election campaign agenda. something in me actually felt that the democracy that nelson really has given us is working in south africa. >> thank you very much for coming in. >> thanks very much to you. >> and optimistic south african ambassador there. let's get a look at other news from around the world. the eu foreign policy chief has held talks with the ukrainian president over the continuing standoff between police and antigovernment protesters in the t f. -- the capital kiev. u.s. secretary of state john kerry has urged congress not to impose new sanctions on iran. he told lawmakers the u.s. had promised no new sanctions as part of last month's interim agreement to curb iran's n

the future of south africa now mandela has gone and, given the reaction we got -- we saw president zuma got in the stadium today. >> in a strange way, i think all of that says south africa's future is good. this is south africa where people can feel free without fear of recriminations and be let into a stadium where their political sentiments in an election season -- i believe it to use that occasion drive an election campaign agenda. something in me actually felt that the democracy that nelson really has given us is working in south africa. >> thank you very much for coming in. >> thanks very much to you. >> and optimistic south african ambassador there. let's get a look at other news from around the world. the eu foreign policy chief has held talks with the ukrainian president over the continuing standoff between police and antigovernment protesters in the t f. -- the capital kiev. u.s. secretary of state john kerry has urged congress not to impose new sanctions on iran. he told lawmakers the u.s. had promised no new sanctions as part of last month's interim agreement to curb iran's n

we learned from president jacob zuma that mandela will be given a full state funeral on sunday, december 15. the white house has confirmed president obama and the first lady will travel to south africa next week to take part in memorial services. we will have full coverage and area begin in johannesburg -- johannesburg. >> they come from all walks of life and all communities to pay respects outside the home of nelson mandela. the sense of bereavement is palpable. to some, almost private and personal. together,so a coming a nation united in mourning but also in celebration of the life of the man they call madiba. >> people are celebrating the life of nelson mandela. i think he would want us to celebrate his life. >> we kept holding onto that and i hope with the spirit going [inaudible] prepares forfrica a state funeral of unprecedented proportions, what kind of nation mr. mandela leaves behind. is possible to overcome hatred and anger in order to build a new nation and a new society. lson mandela went to prison and a great young man. committed to letting his enemies by violence if necessa

we saw the rebuke of president jacob zuma, where he was booed by the crowd.t's never happened before. wife never seen people in south africa to say to the ruling party, to the african national congress, you need to do better. you need to take his legacy and run with it. i was speaking to a young gentleman in a town where mandela was born, he pointed out look, we're not sure whether the future is safe with these leaders. let's take a listen to what he has to say. >> a lot of people were scared of doing wrong things because of the old man. and he was expected everywhere. so now it's a question of will the nation unite again. >> and there's that thought. the worry that now that mandela is dead people will forget his legacy. won't act like he would have. and that means lot of questions for next year's election and olot of questions for the political leaders currently being questioned by many south africans richelle. >> there is only one nelson mandela, that is the reality of it. we'll have to see what happens. nick schiffrin reporting. a special on nelson mandela

day one was thursday and the announcement by jacob zuma. on to friday, day two, books of condolence will be placed so people can pay their reports and record memories of the man they knew as madiba. on saturday, day three, formal invitations will be issued to world leaders. most will want to attend if they can't. sunday, day four, and the media begins a long process for those wishing to cover nelson mandela's final days. nelson mandela's coffin will be moved so the sowetta distribute. the stadium has a capacity for 95,000. on tuesday, nelson mandela's body will be moved to the union building. this is the seat of the south african government and the rehearsals will begin at the state mem yore jal. on wednesday and just, day seven and eight. the state memorial service will take place as the country says its final goodbyes. on friday, day nine, there's spected to be a symbolic inspection. it will be flown to the family compound in the eastern cape. after all of that, on saturday, day 10, nelson mandela's burial will take place. we are told it

. >>> we want to go to south africa right now where not long ago president zuma, the president of the country with a simple sentence broke the news to his countrymen. >> our nation has lost its greatest son. >> was a nation absolute a life with fearlessness and forgiveness, a life that changed history. abc's alex marquardt is right there as south african's in the middle of the night are absorbing this news. alex? >> reporter: good evening, diane. this country, south africa, has been plunged into a time of great sadness over the news of the death of a man so many affectionately called madiba. his death no great surprise but such a shock to this beacon of hope, this pillar of freedom is no longer with us. there are huge numbers of south africans who have gathered outside his home. they're dancing and singing struggle song from the apartheid era, the national anthem interspersed with moments of silence. there have been conflicting reports in recent weeks over the health of mandela. as late as tonight one of his daughters said that he was fine. this announcement was made late tonight, jus

south african president jacob zuma said our nation has lost its greatest son. our people have lost a father. mandela's hospital has been moved. this is the scene right outside mandela's home there in johannesburg in the out market neighborhood. you can see right now people are laying flowers and to bring tribute to the man widely seen as the father of modern south africa. he was president for five years. he stepped down, has not been president for 14 years but remains very much in the heart of so many people there. this news came later than night south african time and so right now as this country wakes up, 34 minutes past 8:00, many people are learning nelson mandela is at rest. >> and, of course, mandela accomplished so many great things. he was the father of a nation. he led south africa through its battle against oppression and on to democracy and it kept him away from home. he also stayed very close to his family as we've mentioned our robyn curnow has covered nelson mandela since 1996 and she joins us now, once again, live from johanns burg did talk to hi

current president jacob zuma paid tribute to the anti-apartheid struggle's greatest icon. >> madiba, the man of reflection. he combined two things that is not easy to do, to combine theory and practice. he did it more than many. >> reporter: zuma and all of mandela's grandsons have already stood in his shadow. some may possess his physical stature, but the void left by his loss will never be filled. >> it was true monday that the world would lend the spirit of endurance and the triumph of forgiveness and the beauty of reconciliation. >> reporter: he detailed his grandfather ascension from the ranks of the anc, from the founding member of the youth league, founding member of the armed wing to the treason trial and eventually the country's first black president. criticism of zuma is mounting after he was booed in front of dozens of world leaders earlier this week. some say life hasn't improved enough for enough people in a free south africa. as the anc moves forward without its most beloved son, it's time for the party and country to reflect on how far south africa has come and how far

a little higher on the lawns of the union building behind me here and unveiled by president jacob zuman a speech said let me explain about the statute, this is a statute of the new south africa of the south africa that mandela helped create, the hands on the statute are open both of them open, the arms raised in embrace with jacob zuma said should symbolize the south africa that is now in place. so south africans moving on, the mourning for nelson mandela over, this is the transitional day in a way, a national public holiday which everybody is celebrating, we will hear a speech from president zuma within the next half hour but now it's very much looking to the future. now it's very much taking up those challenges that everybody has been speaking about through the past ten days, that is a legacy that nelson mandela left how to make it work, that is the reality that is now facing south africans today as they pause during the period of mourning and going back to their lives when all the work, all the industries and everything opens tomorrow after this public holiday. >> and mike just a qu

south africa's president jacob zuma led them in a song reminiscent of the years of struggle. we, the nation, are crying the words go. the song sung at the funerals at fallen hero with an expression of gratitude for perhaps the greatest hero of them all. >> we wish today to express two simple words. thank you. thank you for being everything we wanted and needed in a leader during a difficult period in our lives. the long walk to freedom has ended in the physical sense. our own journey continues. >> reporter: in a blend of the formal with the traditional, there were deeply personal tributes as well from one of his 18 grandchildren. >> we shall miss you when you were not pleased with our behavior. we shall miss your voice as you told us stories of your childhood. we shall miss your laughter. >> reporter: from life-long friend and fellow robben island prison addressing the man he called madala. >> what do we say to you, madala, in these days? the last, final moments together before you exit the public stage. when he died, i lost a father, and now i'm lost a brother. my life is in

his death was announced by jacob zuma, who called mandela south africa's greatest son.een remarkable. people of all stripes taking to the streets, singing, dancing and celebrating his life. his death came as no surprise but as a new day dawns in south africa many are waking up with a deep sense of loss over this national and global hero. alexander marquardt, abc news, johannesburg. >> alex, thank you. >>> president obama called himself one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from nelson mandela. he ordered flags at the white house and across the country to be lowered to half staff. karen travers has reaction from around the world. ♪ >> reporter: outside of the home where nelson mandela died, they sang in memory and mourning. >> great fighter, strong man. >> reporter: south africa's president delivered the long dreaded news. >> our nation has lost its greatest son. our people have lost their father. >> reporter: president obama praised the man he called a personal inspiration. >> we've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human bein

among those paying tribute were south african president jacob zuma. >> so many things have been said a the cutsca -- madib he has done so many things. he has distinguished himself so many times. he was a man of action. >> mandela's body was brought to the air base from pretoria before heading to its final resting place. the past few days, tens of thousands of south africans have paid their last respects to the anti-apartheid icon. they have been filing past his cost it -- his casket as his body lays in state. he will be buried in his hometown in the eastern province on sunday in a private ceremony. to land is attempting on the moon today, carrying the first lunar rover. it will be a major breakthrough for the chinese space program. touchdown 12 days after he blasted off. china is aiming to become the third country to land a rover on the moon, following the u.s. and the former soviet union 37 years ago. two sports now. -- on two sports now. hammeringphic 7-0 last weekend. once again, they came out on the losing end. affairas a hard-fought and in the end, it was the home side the did t

the death,announced president jacob zuma saying, "we have lost our greatest son." our people have lost a father. talk to us about how south africans did see nelson mandela as a father figure. >> absolutely. a lot of south africans almost see him as a personal father. they feel like they have a personal relationship because he was such a warm and open human being. he was able to connect to people way.very personal that has created that fatherly figure. beyond that, there's a lot of trepidation as to what will happen in south africa now that he's not around. whether his biggest contribution possibly was his ability to unite nations and at the end of apartheid when many people thought that the widespread , there were a lot of people concerned with whether that unity will remain. the former president has also discussed with the media and he himself said that now is the time for us to think about what kind of a democratic south africa and an egalitarian south africa we want to be. >> joining us live from near the mandela home in johannesburg. continuing our coverage. th

our president zuma, wonderful dignitaries.ospital. i was filled with an alarming mixture of sadness, emotion and pride. he tightly held my hand. i brought all emotions in me, and my mind automatically flashed back to the picture of the man on the home i grew up. how i wished i'd never had to confront what i saw. i first met him 67 years ago. the tall, healthy strong man, the boxer, the prisoner who easily wielded the pick and shovel when we couldn't do so. >> our viewers in the united states will leave us for a special honoring the children of >> we're going to leave for that special. but stay with cnn. we'll have more updates on the funeral throughout the day. ♪ >>> daniel was drawn to music. he always wanted to be a drummer. >> i still really can't seem to get my head around that this has happened and how final it is. >> good >> i had to be on the floor because i felt if i stood up the world woulin

we have seen jacob zuma the current south african president arriving.of course the president that took over two down the line from nelson mandela. mandela came to power in '94 but only served one term as president. he was 75 when he came into power. and he handed over. the memorial service when it gets underway, leaders from around the world but also celebrities that associated with nelson mandela. we saw charlize they are ron earlier. she was born in south africa. a small town 30 miles east of here on the other side of johannesburg. we have seen bono arrive. the star of u 2. he got to know nelson mandela very well over the years. naomi campbell that was pictured a number of time with nelson mandela. she is a super model and he was also quite taken by the spice girls when he met them. quite a number of celebrities. oprah winfrey is going to be here today. >> i wonder what south africans will make of this week and this day. how much it will mean to them and how much they will take strength from this to move forward. >> you know, it's our 20th anniversary

foreign language] >> translator: i would like to address michelle and family members to president zuma and all south africans our deepest feelings of pain and sorrow. >> translator: long live mandela forever! >> thank you very much, president from brazil. the land that will welcome all of us to the world cup. we now call upon our next speaker, who is the vice president, lee chow of china. vice president lee chow of china. [inaudible conversations] [speaking in foreign language] >> dear members of the man da la family, president assume la, leaders from around the world, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends. [speaking in foreign language] >> translator: we have traveled from different parts of the world together here today to mourn the passing of nelson mandela, the founding president of the new south africa. here on behalf of the people's republic of china and in the name of the chinese government and people, i wish to express deep condolences and pay high tribute to this towering figure born on the african constant continent who is bright smile we remember fondly. [speaking in foreign la