Pretoria - Nelson Mandela’s final footsteps in Pretoria will be mapped and marked as part of the city’s mission to preserve history.
Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said on Thursday the City of Tshwane was excited about the “Relive the memory of President Nelson Mandela” project through which it intended mapping and tracing Madiba’s last journey through the capital city.
The mayor said this would be through the memorial route used by the Mandela cortege from One Military Hospital to the Union Buildings, and ultimately to the Waterkloof Air Force Base, from where he was flown to his final resting place at his ancestral home of Qunu.
Madiba died early last December at his Houghton home in Joburg and his mortal remains were transported between One Military Hospital, Thaba Tshwane, and the Union Buildings for public viewing.
He lay in state in the amphitheatre from where he was inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected head of state in 1994.
South Africans and selected international visitors and guests were able to view the former president’s remains.
While being transported to the Union Buildings, members of the public formed a guard of honour and lined the route of the procession.
The route started from One Military Hospital on Old Pretoria Road, proceeding to Kgosi Mampuru Street.
It continued along Kgosi Mampuru Street until the intersection of Madiba Street before proceeding to the Union Buildings.
Ramokgopa said: “We will also, as part of recollecting our history, map out and audit all heritage resources, including tracing the origins and development of our townships and their names.” - Pretoria News