- Government says 50,000 people had gathered by 7.30am, and witnesses said the lines were already several miles long
- As stampedes break out among those desperate to see body, government urges those not already in line to stay away
- But queues were so long officials said there was a likelihood that many would be turned away before seeing 'Madiba'
- It is the last day Mandela's body will lie in state before his funeral takes place in his rural home in Qunu on Sunday
Tens of thousands of South African mourners waited in line today in a last chance to view the body of Nelson Mandela, as it lay in state for a third and final day.
The government said some 50,000 people had gathered by 7.30am, and witnesses said the lines in Pretoria, South Africa's capital, were already several miles long.
But as queues snaked for miles through Pretoria's streets and parks, sparking the odd stampede in places, the government urged anyone who wasn't already in line to stay away.
Some mourners were knocked to the ground in crushes as desperate mourners rushed for their chance to pay last respects to the former freedom fighter.
Last chance: Mourners line along the street as the funeral cortege carrying the coffin of former South African President Nelson Mandela drives through, on its way to lie in state for the final day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria
See a hero: Queues snaked for miles, through streets and fields, as South Africans tried to catch a glimpse of their national hero
Goodbye Madiba: The hearse's route of several miles was lined all the way by mourners wishing to pay their respects
Dedication: The government said some 50,000 people had gathered by 7.30am, and witnesses said the lines in Pretoria, South Africa's capital, were already several miles long
In vain: But queues were so long that officials said there was a likelihood that many would be turned away before the casket is taken away later in the day
Respect: The casket of former South African President Nelson Mandela is followed by his oldest grandson Mandla Mandela (far left), as it is carried to lie in state for the third day today
What they'd come to see: Mandela's body, guarded by South African Naval personnel, lies in its casket for the world to pay its respects
Cortege: Mandela's cortege was led by an escort of police motorcycles, left, while his coffin was draped in a South African flag, right
Confetti: People cheer as the coffin of Mandela, known affectionately by his countrymen as 'Madiba', drives through the streets, wrapped in a South African flag
A spokesman said: 'We appeal to members of the public who have not had the opportunity to pay their respects to President Mandela at the Union Buildings, to say goodbye in their own personal way.'
Organizers handed out water to the crowds, and moved up elderly people and women with children to spare them a longer wait.
As people kept arriving, the government warned it couldn't guarantee that all people currently will be able to file past Mandela's casket until the agreed limit on Friday afternoon.
Some of those who did view the body at the Union Buildings, a century-old government complex overlooking the city, wept at the sight of the revered anti-apartheid leader in a coffin.
Desperate: Police try to hold back people as they open a gate to a park and ride at the Tshwane Events Centre where buses were shuttling wellwishers to a line to view the body
Eager: A young boy looks through a fence as he waits in line at the Tshwane Events Centre with thousands of people hoping to board a bus that will take them to Mandela
Wait your turn: A police officer closes a gate as he cuts off access to buses to avoid a stampede
'We have been standing in the queue now for four hours to see Madiba,' she said, using Mandela's clan name as a sign of affection and respect.
Mandela, who was jailed for 27 years during white rule and later became president, died on December 5 in his Johannesburg home after a long illness at the age of 95.
Guess who: A giant statue of Nelson Mandela is prepared before its official unveiling in front of Union Buildings where Mandela is lying in state
Unveiling: President Jacob Zuma will unveil a nine-metre-high bronze statue of former president Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria next week. the government said it hope the statue would become a site of pilgrimage
Love: Many of the mourners held banners and placards showing their love for the former leader
Tears: Many of the visitors wept as they witnessed the statesman's body. Even a few members of the police were unable to contain their grief as the emotion took hold of the gathered mourners
A celebration: Others were more cheerful as they celebrated the freedom fighter's life
United in struggle: U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was in Cape Town in 1990 when Mandela was released from prison, also walked past Mandela's casket today
Support: After viewing Mandela's body, Rev. Jackson was seen comforting a woman who was overcome by emotion
Statesmen: The President of Rwanda Paul Kagame (far left) bows his head as he pays his respects to Mandela's body
Emotion: As queues stretched through South Africa's capital, many of those lucky enough to see the body came out in floods of tears
Stampede: Mourners jostle in a stampede as they run to queue before boarding buses to take them to the Union Buildings
The queue for the queue: Thousands of people line up to board a bus that will take them to wait in line to view the body
U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was in Cape Town in 1990 when Mandela was released from prison, also walked past Mandela's casket, with photos showing him comforting a woman there who was overcome by emotion.
President Jacob Zuma's office said he had authorized the deployment of 11,900 military servicemen to assist police in maintaining order during the funeral service.
Stampede: Elsewhere, mourners fell in a stampede as they ran to the queue
Iconic: Mandela, who was jailed for 27 years during white rule and later became president, died on December 5 in his Johannesburg home after a long illness at the age of 95. He was freed in 1990 (left) and became soon president. In one of his many iconic moments, he wore a Springbok rugby jersey as he waved to the crowds at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, right
Long journey: The funeral cortege of Mandela makes its way along Madiba St towards Union Buildings
Biggest funeral: South African military personnel keep guard around the perimeter of Nelson Mandela's property in Qunu, ahead of his funeral on Sunday
Rehearsals: South African troops rehearse the funeral procession for the former South African president ahead of his funeral on Sunday
'The unveiling of the statue on 16 December [Monday] is intended as acknowledgement of the contribution of the first president of a democratic South Africa, a symbol of national reconciliation and unity,' it said in a statement.
'Hopefully, it will become a site of pilgrimage for domestic and international visitors.'
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