Johannesburg – Activity outside Nelson Mandela’s former Soweto house was increasing on Monday morning.

Crowds of people gathered to sing and dance in celebration of the former president’s life.

“I am here to pay my last respect to Tata for what he has done for the nation,” Lesego Tabude said.

Many people delivered flowers and personalised messages inscribed on cards.

Some visitors wore traditional South African outfits or clothes bearing the South African colours.

“We are South African, we our proud of our heritage. Mandela is our father,” said Kagiso Mponde wearing traditional Zulu attire.

Mandela died on Thursday night at his Houghton, Johannesburg, home at the age of 95, and people spontaneously started gathering outside his old home in Vilakazi Street, Soweto, and in Houghton.

His funeral is scheduled to take place in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday, where he grew up.

Friends, colleagues, comrades and family of Nelson Mandela are invited to share their memories and tributes, and to light a candle for him, on his profile at Remembered.co.za.

– SAPA