After the long walk to freedom comes the long journey to rest-NELSON MANDELA MEMORIAL

Nelson Mandela FNB Soccer Stadium Memorial Service

This is a great day for SA - Mthethwa


Johannesburg - It is a great day for South Africa, as people all across the world commemorate the late former president Nelson Mandela, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Tuesday.

"It's a great day for us," he said.

"We owe everything we have and we know [to Mandela]."

Mthethwa was speaking ahead of the memorial service to be held at the FNB Stadium in the south of Johannesburg.

Scores of people, including local and international media, had already entered the stadium ahead of the service.

Humbled

"We are feeling humbled by the international support," said Mthethwa.

He said Mandela was shaped by what he represented.

"The movement he belonged to is a movement for the people."

Mthethwa said Mandela was characterised by good values, and he had been privileged to have had grown up in Mandela's time.

"We who have been around him from a young age, we have really benefited a lot from him."

He said Mandela had taught them principles of openness and values of humanity.

Mthethwa told eNCA news that security plans were in place.

SA under test

"The capacity of the country is under test; everyone is watching us around the globe. How we are doing? Are we capable?," he told the television news station.

"We know we are up to it."