Rome residents can pay tribute to Mandela at South African embassy

The South African embassy in Rome has opened a book of condolences following the death of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president.

The anti-apartheid hero, known to South Africans as Madiba, died at his home outside Pretoria on Thursday 5 December. The nation's president Jacob Zuma said that Mandela would receive a state funeral and that South African flags would be flown at half mast until after the funeral, expected to be held in about a week's time.

The book of condolences in Rome will be open during embassy hours from 08.00 on Friday 6 December. The embassy is located on Via Tanaro 14 in the capital's Parioli district. For more details see embassy website.

Second photo. On a private visit in 2001 Mandela receives the citizenship of Venice, granted him by the city government in 1987 when he was still in prison in Robben Island.