Mandela's funeral: Security challenges for South Africa

With dozens of world leaders in attendance, Mr Mandela's funeral will be the most security-intensive event in recent memory.

On December 10, a memorial service for late South African President Nelson Mandela will take place at the First National Bank (FNB) stadium, which can accommodate about 95,000 people in Johannesburg.

Security forces deployed outside FNB Stadium (Photo: Reuters)

With the presence of four US Presidents from various periods along with dozens of other world leaders, Mr. Mandela's memorial service is expected to be the largest security event in recent times and also an extremely big challenge for South Africa as security plans were only announced 5 days in advance.

South African police said thousands of officers were deployed to ensure traffic, protect the public and assist bodyguards of world leaders attending the ceremony. According to an official list released by the South African government, at least 88 presidents and prime ministers will be in South Africa to attend Nelson Mandela's funeral.

According to Mr. Makgale, police special forces, diplomats and intelligence officers had planned and discussed in advance with foreign delegations en route to Johannesburg to ensure security.

At FNB Stadium, where the memorial service for Nelson Mandela is scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. on December 10 (US time), workers have welded bulletproof glass barriers to protect President Barack Obama and other important guests.

In South Africa, for the first time, Cuban President Raoul Castro and US President Barack Obama will attend the same event. In addition, many other world leaders will come to South Africa such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.

The US Secret Service did not comment on specific security measures, but an agency official told NBC News that security measures for the President on short trips were in place and ready for any situation.

The US Secret Service has sent an advance team to South Africa to discuss security measures that will be implemented. The team arrived in South Africa last week, shortly after Mr Mandela died.

In addition to US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, former US Presidents George W. Bush (with his wife Laura Bush), President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former President Jimmy Carter also took private flights to South Africa to attend the memorial services for Mr. Mandela. Mr. George H. Bush is the only living former US President who could not attend the memorial service due to his old age and poor health.

It is very rare for former US Presidents to appear together at an event outside the US. The only previous gathering of former US Presidents took place only once, on February 8, 1999, when Mr. Carter, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush and President Clinton attended the funeral of King Hussein in Amman, Jordan.

The South African government has not yet revealed the details of its security plans, but the number of police, special forces, weapons and explosives experts it has mobilized is said to be very large. It is predicted that a large number of metal detectors and about 15,000 police will guard the entrances and inside the stadium.

In addition, the South African government has deployed the army's most elite forces - including special forces, snipers and sniffer dogs - to ensure security at the stadium. Military helicopters and fighter jets will block the skies, helping to prevent threats from the air.

“Whether we are hosting 10 heads of state or 70 or even 100, we have the capacity to ensure their safety,” Mr Makgale confidently said.

Meanwhile, the US side appeared quite satisfied with the security work being deployed by South Africa. White House spokesman Ben Rhodes said: "I don't see any concerns. South Africa has hosted the World Cup before so they have enough experience to ensure security for a major event"./.

According to VOV