As the capital city of South Africa, Tshwane plays a significant part in the national period of mourning. A substantial amount of the proceedings will take place within its boundaries, including the observation of the mortal remains of the late President lying in state for three days and various commemorative services.
Tata Mandela was Tshwane’s life-long first citizen and a founder of South Africa’s first capital city. The City of Tshwane, like the rest of the world, is in pain at his passing but also still fully prepared to lay him to rest. We therefore deem it appropriate to indicate the state of readiness of the capital city as we welcome well-wishers.
The City remains aware of its roles and responsibilities and it fully participates in the preparations. It has activated response teams in Emergency Services, Disaster Management and Metro Police to manage the potential crowd hotspots such as Church Square, the Union Buildings and Madiba Street Park that are the natural attraction points for national mourning and expression of sorrow.
Official operations in Tshwane will run for nine days and will include the lying in state, an official memorial service by the City of Tshwane, and managing the public viewing and mourning sites.
Key operations to ensure that the city remains safe include waste removal, safety and security, emergency and medical services, crowd management, and traffic control.
Emergency and Medical Services
The City acknowledges that in every incident there is always a possibility of threats that may hamper the smooth proceeding of events.
Unlikely conditions may endanger the audience and/or participants during the period and will require the Emergency Services Department to quickly and efficiently respond in order to prevent or minimise any loss of life or property.
The City has reasonable resources in the form of people and equipment to manage the event and all risk associated with it. Each role player has its own institutional arrangements in place, even though the risk is dynamic and increases as a result of people flocking to Tshwane for the event.
Transport and roads
Arrangements were made to reinstate current road construction sites to their original state for Madiba’s funeral by Monday 9 December 2013. All parties concerned have pledged their commitment to keep to the agreed targets. Key road infrastructure includes the following:
- Clean-up or reinstatement of affected roads (Operation Reclaim and Tshwane Rapid Transit) in the CBD and on key routes, starting on 7 December 2013.
- Temporary closure of entire sections of roads to the public during the reinstatement.
- Road markings, intersections, and traffic signals and poles will be cleaned up.
- Guidance signs – from the main routes to the key points – will be procured and installed.
- Wonderboom Airport is prepared and can be used immediately for increased aircraft operations.
City of Tshwane Park & Ride facilities:
Due to the anticipated increase private vehicle use, we have activated numerous park and ride facilities as follows
- Tshwane Events Center (TEC): Park & Ride 1 (public)
- LC De Villiers Sports Facility: Park & Ride 2 (public)
- Fountains Valley: Park & Ride 3 (public)
Public viewing areas (PVAs) and areas of observance
Our programme seeks to unite communities during the mourning for former President Mandela and to celebrate the qualities that made him the icon of the world. It supports his position of being a firm believer, political activist and children's rights campaigner.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department and the Emergency Services Department will continuously deploy resources at all venues. Various entertainment and other activities will also take place at the public viewing areas. The following sites have been identified:
- Region 1(a) - Mabopane Indoor Centre (Mawiga Zone)
- Region 1(b) - Giant Stadium (Soshanguve Zone)
- Region 2 - Suurman Community Hall (Hamanskraal Zone)
- Region 3 - Lucas Moripe Stadium (Atteridgeville Zone)
- Region 4 - Absa Sports Ground (outdoor tent) (Olievenhoutbosch)
- Region 5 - Refilwe Community Hall
- Region 6 - University of Pretoria Mamelodi Campus
- Region 7 - Bronkhorstspruit Sports Complex / Masakhane Hall
- Note: An Outside Broadcasting setup maybe at City Hall
Urban management responsiveness
In addition to normal waste management services there are additional services focusing at:
- The Heart Hospital precinct
- Union Building precinct
- 1 Military Hospital precinct
- Route from 1 Military Hospital - Union Building
- Route from Fountains Valley -Nelson Mandela - Madiba Street
- N14, Eeufees Road , R21, Fountains entrances
The City has an obligation to the community and the former State President to host a solemn observation and events.
We appeal to members of the public to cooperate with our officials, who may be required to impose extra-ordinary measures to ensure the safety of persons descending upon our city to mourn the fall our nation’s founding father.
Enquiries:
Blessing Manale
Executive Head: Public Affairs, Media Relations and Spokesperson
Tel: 012 358 4320
Cell: 083 677 1630
E-mail: BlessingManale@tshwane.gov.za
