nelson mandela memorial service (as viewed from cape town)

You've probably heard about this memorial service on the local news. It was certainly the talk of the town here in Cape Town yesterday. Nelson Mandela's official memorial service was held in Johannesburg, at a soccer stadium near the township of Soweto (where Nelson Mandela lived in the 1950s with his wife Winnie).

Jim and other teachers streamed audio from the event while at school; I was in Cape Town, and stopped at the Grand Parade outside City Hall to watch a few of the speeches on the big screens set up for crowds there. The day was not declared a national holiday, which may have had an impact on crowds - they seemed to be smaller than expected in Cape Town.

I was interested to hear who was popular with the crowds, both in the stadium and on the street in Cape Town. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received cheers as he began his speech from the Cape Town crowd, who were much more respectful than the audience at the stadium (who continued to sing songs during almost all the speeches). Former President Bill Clinton also received applause. Images of Zimbabwe's long-time president Robert Mugabe on the big screen were also big hit (Mugabe is controversial for his human rights abuses, nearly 30-year grip on power, devestating impact on Zimbabwe's economy, and policies of "indigenisation" - a law passed in 2008 that gives black Zimbabweans the right to take over and control many foreign owned companies in Zimbabwe). Former President George W. Bush (who Mandela had criticized over the invasion of Iraq) got a few boos, as did current South African President Jacob Zuma (Zuma's were much more intense, and likely stem from the ongoing and recent accusations of corruption as well as general dissatisfaction with poverty, unemployment and crime in SA, especially in black communities).

But the biggest applause by far went to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Every time they were captured on camera, the crowd erupted at the stadium, and I heard loud applause in the Grand Parade in Cape Town. I was back in the car by the time Obama spoke, but it was clear that his speech was well-received (to say the least) - it got a standing ovation.  I was awed by his speech (as were the radio commentators I listened to), and appreciated that he used the moment to call listeners to action and not just reflection. Here's a link to the audio and the prepared text, in case you missed it.

Rest in peace, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.