Obama to speak at Nelson Mandela memorial

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- President Obama will deliver a tribute at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service Tuesday at a stadium in the Johannesburg township of Soweto.

It was where South Africa’s former leader made his last public appearance, in 2010, at the final game of soccer’s World Cup championships, looking frail, wearing a fur hat, riding in a golf cart and beaming as he waved to the crowd.

The main speaker at the memorial will be President Jacob Zuma, who has won praise for his gravitas and dignity in the days since Mandela died Thursday at the age of 95, urging South Africans to emulate Mandela’s example and to give him a fitting funeral.

The service will be broadcast on screens set up in squares, stadiums and meeting places across South Africa, while millions are expected to watch the event on television. The main stadium is expected to fill quickly, and those who are turned away will be asked to go to other venues with screens.

More than 90 world leaders are expected to attend the memorial, including heads of state, heads of government and royals. Among those scheduled to speak are United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and Cuba.

Others will attend the state funeral, to be held Sunday in Mandela’s tiny home village, Qunu.

Beginning Wednesday, Mandela’s body will lie in state in Pretoria for three days, although ordinary South Africans are likely to have trouble getting access to view the body because of restrictions on numbers.

Many South Africans are expected to line the streets to see Mandela’s coffin as it passes en route to the viewing site.

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