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Friday, December 13, 2013

With Their Own Images, South Africans Remember Mandela

South Africans paid their respects in Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela had made his first public speech after nearly three decades in prison. Keenon Daniels South Africans paid their respects in Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela had made his first public speech after nearly three decades in prison. 

Since the 10-day period of mourning began after the death of Nelson Mandela last week, tens of thousands of people across South Africa took to the streets, waving flags and posters. They stood in the driving rain at a soccer stadium and attended a concert in Cape Town. For three days, thousands of people filed past his glass-topped coffin in Pretoria to pay their final respects to the country’s first black president, the man who brought an end to apartheid and unified the country.

Many people documented their experience in recent days. Here’s a look at how some of our readers in South Africa responded to a request to share the events through their eyes, combined with photos posted on social networks.

In Johannesburg, where a crowd gathered outside Mr. Mandela’s home shortly after the announcement of his death, people captured pictures of moments and memorials to the former president.

An interracial couple kissed at a memorial outside Mr. Mandela's home in Johannesburg.Ihsaan Haffejee An interracial couple kissed at a memorial outside Mr. Mandela’s home in Johannesburg.
A little boy in Johannesburg juxtaposed with an image of Mr. Mandela. Samantha Oh A little boy in Johannesburg juxtaposed with an image of Mr. Mandela. 
Hundreds gathered at a memorial outside Mr. Mandela's home in Johannesburg.Christopher J. Lee Hundreds gathered at a memorial outside Mr. Mandela’s home in Johannesburg.
Women sang in celebration of Mr. Mandela's life outside his home in Johannesburg, a day after the news of his death. David DiGregorio Women sang in celebration of Mr. Mandela’s life outside his home in Johannesburg, a day after the news of his death. 

At the soccer stadium in Soweto, where President Obama was among the world leaders to remember Mr. Mandela on Tuesday, Christina Primke of Cape Town and Cornell Tukiri of Johannesburg captured the exuberance in the crowd while Thulani Mbele noted the deep emotion among mourners.

Tens of thousands of South Africans gathered in the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday to pay tribute to Mr. Mandela.Christina Primke Tens of thousands of South Africans gathered in the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday to pay tribute to Mr. Mandela.
Men sang together to remember Mr. Mandela at the service Tuesday in Soweto.Cornell Tukiri Men sang together to remember Mr. Mandela at the service Tuesday in Soweto.
A woman at the memorial service for Mr. Mandela in Soweto on Tuesday.Thulani Mbele A woman at the memorial service for Mr. Mandela in Soweto on Tuesday.

Jolanta Ksiezniak was at the memorial concert in Cape Town.

People sang and carried posters of Mr. Mandela during a memorial concert in Cape Town. Jolanta Ksiezniak People sang and carried posters of Mr. Mandela during a memorial concert in Cape Town.

Flags few at half-staff across the country, including in Pretoria, where thousands of people gathered starting Wednesday to pay their final respects.

Flags flew at half-staff across South Africa, including in Pretoria.Chris Stamatiou Flags flew at half-staff across South Africa, including in Pretoria.

On Friday, nearly 50,000 people descended on Pretoria to catch a final glimpse of Mr. Mandela, as my colleagues John Eligon and Alan Cowell reported.

But the crowd was so large that not everyone was able to file past the coffin before it was removed for the last time.

On Sunday, a state funeral is scheduled in Qunu, the village where Mr. Mandela grew up. It is to be the last moment in the national mourning period.

Pedro Ugarte, who is the head of photographer for Agence France-Presse Asia-Pacific, posted a picture of a young boy in Qunu watching the preparations for Sunday’s service.